Perkins and Stevens left the band in 2000, and Felton left in 2004. Stevens released a solo album under the name Roj, and Felton formed the group Seeland with Billy Bainbridge from Plone. After the January 2011 death of Trish Keenan, James Cargill is the only current member of the band.
The band has released five albums in their career: "The Noise Made by People" (2000), "Haha Sound" (2003), "Tender Buttons" (2005), "Broadcast and The Focus Group Investigate Witch Cults of the Radio Age" (2009, with The Focus Group) and "Berberian Sound Studio" (2013), the soundtrack to the film of the same name. Cargill has stated that plans for an album featuring Keenan's final recordings is in the works.
The band's first releases were singles released on Wurlitzer Jukebox Records ( "Accidentals" ) and Duophonic Records ("The Book Lovers") in the mid-1990s. "The Book Lovers" was also featured on the soundtrack of the film Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery. They attracted the attention of Warp Records, who compiled the singles in 1997 on "Work and Non Work".
The band was chosen by Matt Groening to perform at the All Tomorrow's Parties festival he curated in May 2010 in Minehead, Somerset, England.
The band's style is a mixture of electronic sounds and Keenan's 1960s-influenced vocals. It is heavily influenced by the 1960s influenced American psychedelic group The United States of America, using many of the same electronic effects. It was also reminiscent of Stereolab. However, despite the similar musical pedigree, Broadcast's music is often darker and edgier in sound – with amorphous samples and analogue dissonance giving it a retro-futuristic sci-fi edge.
On January 14th, 2011, Trish Keenan died from complications caused by pneumonia.
There are other artists with the same name:
2.) Broadcast is a melodic hardcore band from west coast of Sweden. Their debut EP, Guidelines was released on november 11th, 2013.
https://www.facebook.com/broadcastofficial
http://broadcastofficial.bandcamp.com
3.) Broadcast was a Finnish pop rock group founded in 1980 by i.a. Edu Kettunen, Kim Lönnholm and Esa Kaartamo.
Ominous Cloud
Broadcast Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the beach and on the earth
The boats on the sea are blissfully free
They will come to no harm
'Cause the waves are so calm
Oh let me think a while
To the playground of your smile
Whistles your name
Though you said goodbye
You did not leave my mind
Oh I've got to get away
From this town don't want to face
The ominous clouds
But not now
I've got to find a place
Be myself and learn to face
The ominous clouds
But not now
I want to sail away
Want to look back on the day
And hide with my hand
What's left of the land
Though I leave it behind
It will not leave my mind
Oh I've got to get away
From this town don't want to face
The ominous clouds
Oh not now
I've got to find a place
Be myself and learn to face
The ominous clouds
But not now
The song Ominous Cloud by Broadcast, although seemingly light and breezy in melody, is actually quite contemplative in message. It speaks of the need to escape from a town and face the ominous clouds that seem to be looming, but not right away. The lyrics are filled with imagery of boats sailing away to no harm, wind whistling a name, and looking back at the land left behind.
The opening lines, "Oh let me sail away, on the beach and on the earth," create a feeling of wanting to escape to a place where one is free to be themselves. The boats on the sea are described as being "blissfully free" and the waves as being calm, creating a sense of serenity and peace. The playground of a smile and the wind whistling a name speak to the past and the memories that have been left behind. The singer wants to escape from town, "not now," but eventually face the ominous clouds that are looming over them.
The repetition of "Oh I've got to get away" and "I've got to find a place, be myself and learn to face the ominous clouds" creates a sense of urgency and longing to escape. The song speaks to the idea that sometimes you need to get away to truly face problems and confront the things that are causing anxiety. The music itself is light and airy, but the lyrics speak of something much deeper and more profound.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh let me sail away
The singer wishes to escape their current situation
On the beach and on the earth
The singer desires to find peace and freedom in nature
The boats on the sea are blissfully free
The singer envies those who are free to roam without limitations
They will come to no harm
The artist seeks reassurance that their desire to escape will not cause harm to themselves or others
'Cause the waves are so calm
The artist believes that a peaceful escape is possible
Oh let me think a while
The singer needs time to reflect and contemplate their options
To the playground of your smile
The singer yearns to return to a happier time or place
The wind through the flame
The artist experiences a feeling of change or transformation
Whistles your name
The artist is reminded of someone they have lost
Though you said goodbye
The artist has experienced loss
You did not leave my mind
The singer is holding onto a memory
Oh I've got to get away
The artist feels trapped and in need of escape
From this town don't want to face
The singer desires to leave their current circumstances behind
The ominous clouds
The singer is facing a daunting challenge or difficulty
But not now
The singer is not ready to face their problem yet
I've got to find a place
The artist seeks a safe haven or refuge
Be myself and learn to face
The artist wants to find the strength to confront their problem
The ominous clouds
The singer's challenge or difficulty remains
But not now
The singer is not yet ready to face their challenge
I want to sail away
The artist desires a means of escape
Want to look back on the day
The artist seeks closure and wishes to put the past behind them
And hide with my hand
The artist seeks to obscure or shield their memories
What's left of the land
The singer feels that their current circumstances are barren or desolate
Though I leave it behind
The artist acknowledges that their past will follow them
It will not leave my mind
The singer continues to carry their memories with them
Oh I've got to get away
The singer reiterates their desire to escape
From this town don't want to face
The singer still desires to leave their current circumstances behind
The ominous clouds
The artist's challenge or difficulty persists
Oh not now
The artist is still not ready to confront their problem
I've got to find a place
The singer reiterates their need for a refuge
Be myself and learn to face
The singer still seeks the courage to confront their challenge
The ominous clouds
The artist's challenge or difficulty persists
But not now
The artist is not yet ready to confront their problem
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JAMES CARGILL, PATRICIA ANN KEENAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind