1) Broken Records (Edi… Read Full Bio ↴There are two different bands with this name:
1) Broken Records (Edinburgh)
Broken Records formed in 2007 in Edinburgh, Scotland. They use their different musical backgrounds and a wide variety of instrumentation to compliment the eclectic sound they create.
Their 2007 self released debut ‘gig’ EP created a genuine music industry buzz around the band. Drowned in Sound said of the release, “This is magical, engrossing and wholly enveloping, genuinely and excitingly bursting with commercial potential.” They refined their sound throughout 2007 and 2008 with numerous gigs throughout Scotland, including support slots with Idlewild, Sons & Daughters and Editors.
They released their highly acclaimed debut 7" single, “If the News Makes You Sad Don't Watch It”, on London based indie label Young Turks in April 2008. This received plaudits from such varied publications as NME, The Guardian, Drowned in Sound, The Sun and The Times. Radio 1’s Steve Lamacq made it his single of the week and Huw Stephens invited them to do a session for Radio 1 at Maida Vale. Limited releases of singles “Slow Parade” and “Lies” led to a scramble of album deal offers, with the band excited to sign to the prestigious 4AD label. They rounded off the year by playing at the Edinburgh Hogmanay Street Party and being tipped for 2009 in Q magazine, The Times and News Of The World amongst others.
In January 2009 they recorded their debut album, “Until The Earth Begins To Part” at Monnow Valley Studio in Monmouth with producer Ian Caple (Tricky, Tindersticks, Yann Tiersen). The album was released on 1st June 2009 to wide praise, and live performances in support of it garnered 5-star reviews in both The Guardian and The Times. Summer saw them perform at many UK and European festivals including Glastonbury, T in the Park, Haldern Pop Festival and a main-stage slot at Latitude. The successful summer culminated in an invitation to support The National at their Royal Festival Hall show in London, followed by their own sold-out show at The Queens Hall in Edinburgh.
Broken Records spent the Autumn touring Europe and the UK as well as releasing the “Out On The Water” EP in November. Early 2010 found them making their well received live debut in the US at the SXSW Festival in Austin, Texas. Their music was also featured in episodes of the TV dramas “Skins” and “Lost”, and once again appeared as support to The National on part of their European ‘High Violet’ LP tour in July. In August the band also announced the move from being a seven-piece band to a six-piece for with the departure of Arne and Gill, and the introduction of new member, Craig Ross taking up bass and guitar duties.
Oct 2010 saw the UK/EU release of their second album, “Let Me Come Home” along with single “A Darkness Rises Up” which was recorded in Glasgow with producer Tony Doogan (Mogwai, Delgados, Belle & Sebastian,). Once again the album received great reviews across press, including an 8/10 in NME and a B playlist on BBC 6 Music for the single amongst others. This was backed by a co-headline European tour alongside US band Freelance Whales and the single release of “You Know You’re Not Dead”.
In March 2011 they embarked on their debut US headline tour to coincide with the North American release of "Let Me Come Home". As well as performing several sold-out shows they recorded radio sessions for WNYC in New York, The World Cafe in Philadelphia, and Morning Becomes Eclectic on KCRW in LA. The third single "The Motorcycle Boy Reigns" will be released on May 16th and the band will be playing several festivals across Europe throughout the summer.
http://www.brokenrecordsband.com
2) Broken Records (Sweden)
Story of the band:
In the autumn of 2003 Erik and Johan started to fumble some songs together in Johan´s narrow apartment in Majorna, Gothenburg. Low-key, lo-fi acoustic music with close harmony and a richness of melody came out of these experiments.
The technical incompetent duo borrowed a portabel digital studio and managed, somehow, during winter and spring 2004, to record around thirty songs. Some of these recordings were spread among friends and family and resulted in an appreciated debut live performance at a student´s pub in april.
Henrik, with his white Fender Stratocaster, came along in the autumn of 2004. There were now three songwriters in the band, with a broad taste in music, and the sound was widened with a more “mature” feel to it.
Plenty of rehearsals, a handful of live performances and some easy-to-forget home recordings later, contact was made with Daniel Y. During a weekend in july 2005, in a small cellar studio in Guldheden (Goldmoor), Gothenburg, he recorded three songs with the trio. They ended up on Broken Records first official CD-R: “The Goldmoor Sessions/The Livingroom Sessions” 2006.
Three
(October 28 & November 18-19, 2006)
Three is a magic number, they say. And during three days in October & November 2006 so it seemed: The three members of Broken Records headed for Music a Matic studios at Tredje (3rd) Långgatan in Gothenburg to record three songs. With Thomas Andrén's spot-on ideas and delicate hands a richer and warmer sound was born. In organic and earthy Nearby Hills the band deals with the members obsession with kite flying. Anne - a song frequent on the band's live set list - finally gets all dressed up in full costume. Titte Carlsson joins the band on backing vocals on Desperado; a song starting in old time Broken Records style but finishing off the Three-sessions in grand style.
http://www.brokenrecords.se
http://www.myspace.com/brokenrecordsgbg
Modern Worksong
Broken Records Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is the light i see
This is the heart underneath
In the pounding rain
And this is the fumbling graphs
This is a hollow love
This is a sleepless night
So give me a reason to sing
Won't you give me a reason to sing
And please just help me now
Give me a job to keep
And give me a place to sleep
In a home i can call me own
That the bank can't take
So give me a reason to sing
Won't you give me a reason to sing
And please just help me now
In air borderlines they come to me
And loads of little borders kiss
I shout and scream, to put me back to hold you again
So carry a heart for me
Turn on a light to say
For all of the hurt they're be there next to you
And scrabbling the dirt
The lyrics of Broken Records' song "Modern Worksong" is a poignant commentary on the struggles faced by the working-class and their desire for stability, security and a sense of belonging. The first verse speaks about the basic necessities of human life such as air to breathe, light to see and heart to feel, all of which are made difficult to obtain in the midst of pounding rain, symbolic of hardships and struggles. The second verse speaks about the difficult realities of modern life, with fumbling graphs and hollow love, with sleepless nights in a deep sheet green. The lyrics suggest the singer is in search of a reason to sing. The chorus, "Give me a reason to sing, Won't you give me a reason to sing, And please just help me now," is a plea to find hope and meaning in life.
The next verse speaks of the basic needs of a human being like a job, a place to sleep and a home to call one's own but one that is not at the mercy of the bank. The song is a rallying cry to find a reason to sing in bleak times, with a haunting but powerful melody that makes it memorable. The bridge goes on to speak about broken relationships, hurt and holding onto hope. The song is very relatable and is bound to resonate with anyone who has faced the struggles of making ends meet and finding hope in trying times.
Line by Line Meaning
This is the air I breathe
This place is essential to me and it makes me feel alive
This is the light I see
I look around and see everything, finding hope in things that might be invisible to others
This is the heart underneath, In the pounding rain
Even in the toughest storms, my soul is strong enough to endure them all
And this is the fumbling graphs
My life's plans are uncertain and shaky
This is a hollow love
I am not feeling loved enough, and the love I see is missing depth and meaning
This is a sleepless night
The night feels heavy and I am too anxious to rest
In a deep sheet green
I find comfort in the darkness around me, the green indicates its depths, darkness, and mystery
So give me a reason to sing, Won't you give me a reason to sing, And please just help me now
I am looking for some purpose in life and someone to lighten up my hopelessness and guide me through difficult times
Give me a job to keep
All I need right now is a stable source of income through a job
And give me a place to sleep
I am looking for shelter for life to keep me safe and warm
In a home, I can call my own
I want to have my own place which I can call home
That the bank can't take
I am worried that even after all my efforts, banks or other financial institutions can take the place that I will acquire through loan, mortgage or renting. Hence, I am looking for a solution for this concern
In air borderlines, they come to me
Potential opportunities, which are seemingly impossible or difficult, are approaching me
And loads of little borders kiss
Although many small obstacles are embracing me, but if I overcome them, I would be achieving significant progress towards my goals
I shout and scream, to put me back to hold you again
I am expressing my vulnerability and loneliness which I believe can be addressed by the support and compassion of others
So carry a heart for me
Please show empathy and kindness
Turn on a light to say
Bring some joy and positivity in my life
For all of the hurt, they'll be there next to you
During tough times, don't forget you will have loved ones to guide you through
And scrabbling the dirt
Even if I am struggling and fighting on a low level, I have to keep on pushing myself to not loose sight of my goals
Lyrics © Royalty Network Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ANDREW KEENEY, ARNE KOLB, DAVID FOTHERGILL, DAVID SMITH, IAN TURNBELL, JAMIE SUTHERLAND, RORY SUTHERLAND, DAVID MITCHELL SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind