The 60s inspired psychedelic & electronica duo, Broadcast, is set to release their final batch of demos in tribute to lead singer Trish Keenan on what would have been her 56th birthday.
Broadcast, is a spellbinding and haunting group who saw the future with their early electronica combined with 60’s psychedelic synth and nostalgic, soul-stirring vocals. In 1995, the birth of what had the potential to become one of the greatest bands in the world was created. Founding members, Trish Keenan and partner James Cargill, who she met at a 60’s psychedelic revival club in Birmingham, bonded over similar interests and created what we know today as Broadcast.
For those unfamiliar with Broadcast, their distinct sound can be compared to Stereolab’s chiming synth and airy guitar combined with Victoria Legrand from Beach House’s mysterious figure. Although Trish Keenan’s stage presence took an open approach and tended to stay somewhat out of the shadows, her inexplicable ambiance still leaves fans wanting more.
Other members such as guitarist Tim Felton, keyboardist Roj Stevens, and drummer Steve Perkins joined in 1996, a year after the band was formed. The group’s debut studio album, The Noise Made By The People was released in 2000 and is notably one of the most spirited albums of theirs with “Come On Let’s Go”. The playful lingering keys, choppy vibrating guitar, buzzing hums, dominating yet soft controlled voice, and the unconventional anti-conformity of it all is intriguing.
In 2005, Tender Buttons captured the true purpose and style of Broadcast with “I Found The F” and “Black Cat”. At this point for Broadcast, all additional members left, leaving the founding duo. Trish Keenan possesses this mysterious spirit that can be translated through her monotonic vocals. At the same time, James Cargill shows his experimentation with the synth in this album with his simple yet mesmerizing electronica. Broadcast’s studio works are bewitching but do not compare to their live performances.
Although their studio work is entrancing enough, their live performances are truly hypnotizing. There aren’t a lot of videos of Broadcast out there but one of the most energy-capturing videos I have seen is from Paris 2005, a crowd member capturing “I Found The F” from the audience. The fuzzy black and white camcorder tape and slightly sensitive audio perfectly capture Broadcast’s spark. Zoomed into Trish Keenan’s focused nature, her perfervid passion radiates even when she doesn’t show it on her face. Keenan has a strange persona to her seeming enigmatic but emits a feeling of love and light.
In late 2010, right before Christmas, Broadcast played their first-ever Australia tour dates. Little did they know, that would be the duo’s last show ever. December 9th in Melbourne at HiFi Bar, the crowd screamed and cheered for one more after Trish Keenan and James Cargill departed from the stage after their last song “Eyes Open”. The show was one of the most memorable performances from crowd members who attended. The way their shows were laid out with now just the two of them, there were no plans for an encore, but Keenan emerges from backstage alone and sings one last song in acapella. Soon after her time in Australia, Keenan fell extremely ill due to contracting swine flu from the tour. After fighting for two weeks, she was eventually hospitalized battling pneumonia.
January 14th, 2011 at 9:00 A.M., Trish Keenan passed away due to complications from pneumonia. Her tragic and sudden departure left her following in disbelief and great grief. Although her eternal rest resulted in the end of Broadcast, her legacy lives on through her music.
Twelve years later, Broadcast is still greatly mourned but their cult following is beginning to wake up again. Breaking the eighteen-year silence since Trish Keenan’s death, a batch of demos from the making of Tender Buttons, The Noise Made By The People, and Haha Sound are being heard for the first time. May 3, 2024, Spell Blanket- Collected Demos 2006-2009 released containing over thirty-six demos. As if that wasn’t enough, come September 28, 2024, what would have been Trish Keenan’s 56th birthday, a batch of fourteen more uncovered demos from the duo titled Distant Call-Collected Demos 2000-2006 will be released, making this Broadcast’s last and final release ever.
Despite the fact their presence as a band was cut short, what they left behind for their following will be remembered forever and Trish Keenan’s legacy will carry on through what she loved the most, Broadcast.
I am a Touring Concert Photographer based in Dallas. I have a love for physical media such as collaging and mixed media. I personally work with Laredo Two as their photographer and Your Neighbors as their touring photographer! My top three artists are easily The Backseat Lovers, Radiohead and Inhaler! When I'm not shooting, I’am playing animal crossing or playing guitar.
