Public Service Broadcasting: The Race For Space

Posted by: Bruce Woodhouse on 25 February 2015

Well here is a thing pretty unlike anything much in my collection.

 

New album from PSB who produce a mix of electronic, dance, ambient and old radio archival material from the Russian and US space programmes to absolutely fantastic effect. The funky tracks are, well, funky but some of the quieter sections (the devastatingly mournful report of the launchpad fire for example) I found genuinely affecting. The 'go-no-go' for lunar landing had the hairs on the back of my neck on end. 

 

Try to find clips online beyond the single 'Gargarin' if you can, although the accompanying video for that is rather amusing.

 

The Qobuz HD version is fine quality too.

 

Hope this floats someone's boat

 

Bruce

 

 

Posted on: 25 February 2015 by Gavin B

I've enjoyed Gagarin when I've heard it on 6music.

 

I might well investigate the album.

Posted on: 25 February 2015 by pete T15

I am listening to it now . I bought it on the merits of a newspaper review . Really pleased so far and love  'The Other Side' commentating on Apollo 8 going into Lunar orbit , it gives a great feeling of the tension and excitement . 

 

Brian Cox must be doing cartwheels listening to this . 

Posted on: 25 February 2015 by J.N.

Thanks Bruce. 90 second samples of all the tracks are available on iTunes.

 

John.

Posted on: 25 February 2015 by Nick Lees

Mine arrived today, so this is just on first listen.

 

This was always going to be a tricky album for them after The War Room and Inform-Educate-Entertain, which were both pretty bombastic and packed with great riffs/tunes, and especially with the self-limiting aspect of PSB samples as the vocal content, breaking out of the formula wasn't going to be easy.

 

I think they've pretty much succeeded, and the Smoke Fairies track is interesting in particular. Overall though I don't think it's as consistent a listen as the previous efforts but, as I said, it's a first listen and may grow more than the others did. 

Posted on: 25 February 2015 by Nick Lees

Here's the video for Go:

 

Posted on: 25 February 2015 by Dave J

I'm enjoying it too, thanks to Tidal (which is incidentally turning out to be very handy).

 

The funked up Gagarin that was a regular on the Radio 6 playlist remindex me a bit of Tower of Power/Afroskull so I was keen to hear the rest of the album before getting the 24bit download from Qubuz.

Posted on: 25 February 2015 by J.N.

Got the CD in my local HMV store this afternoon - cheaper than The Big River Shop!

 

I like it, but WTF is up with new recordings? It sounds like my tweeters aren't working properly. Flat as a fart and a compressed mush - situation normal.

 

I shall rip it in AAC (256k) for iPod consumption and it will sound better. I know this from past experience of other lo-fi recent recordings. The music industry's attitude toward the audiophile is lamentable. The mp3 player rules!

 

John.

Posted on: 25 February 2015 by Nick Lees

It's not a great recording. Sadly.

Posted on: 25 February 2015 by CharvilJon
Downloaded the HD version from Qobuz and really enjoying it. Whilst possibly not including any individual songs as strong as Spitfire or Everest from their previous album, the underpinning thematic link across the whole makes it a stronger piece of work as a whole. The digital booklet included as part of the Qobuz package provides a fascinating background. On a - slightly - related theme, also worth tracking down is Metrophony by Francesco Giannico. On August 6, 2013, Giannico recorded the entire route of the “B” line of the subway in the city of Rome, that connects the “Rebibbia” station with the “Laurentina” station, and the “B1″ line that connects the ‘Bologna’ station with the ‘Conca D ‘Oro’ station… Audio samples collected were manipulated and transformed electronically, and enriched with synth and/or musical instruments such as guitars, piano, violins. The result is “Metrophony”
Posted on: 25 February 2015 by KRM

Not a great recording, but a pretty good record.

 

Keith

Posted on: 25 February 2015 by JamieWednesday

I love it and am playing it again now! It works and I think it will appeal to a lot of forumites.

 

As stated by others, I figured it would be Lof-fi so am sticking with Spotify on Mu-so for now.

I only wish some of the tracks were longer like a real concept album...

I also can't help thinking of '19' and '...Sunscreen' on Gagarin.

Posted on: 25 February 2015 by J.N.

HD version eh? Good luck with that.

 

I've ripped it in AAC - (256k) and it sounds ludicrously better. These new popular music recordings are obviously optimised for mp3 playback.

 

John.

 

 

Posted on: 25 February 2015 by Bruce Woodhouse
Originally Posted by CharvilJon:
Downloaded the HD version from Qobuz and really enjoying it. Whilst possibly not including any individual songs as strong as Spitfire or Everest from their previous album, the underpinning thematic link across the whole makes it a stronger piece of work as a whole. The digital booklet included as part of the Qobuz package provides a fascinating background. On a - slightly - related theme, also worth tracking down is Metrophony by Francesco Giannico. On August 6, 2013, Giannico recorded the entire route of the “B” line of the subway in the city of Rome, that connects the “Rebibbia” station with the “Laurentina” station, and the “B1″ line that connects the ‘Bologna’ station with the ‘Conca D ‘Oro’ station… Audio samples collected were manipulated and transformed electronically, and enriched with synth and/or musical instruments such as guitars, piano, violins. The result is “Metrophony”

Intriguing! Will investigate

 

Thanks

 

Bruce

Posted on: 26 February 2015 by JBGWild

Ive got tickets for them in Bristol in April, be interesting to see how they sound/what they do live

 

Posted on: 26 February 2015 by J.N.

Hi Bruce,

 

Thanks for alerting me to 'PSB'. I've just ordered their preceding (first) album which sounds equally good; if not better.

 

John.

Posted on: 01 March 2015 by KRM

I have tickets for the Bristol gig too. Loving the album.

 

Keith

Posted on: 19 March 2015 by steve watts

Thanks for the tip on this one. Been listening to it for some time and it's good. Only issue is that it always leaves me wanting more!

Posted on: 19 March 2015 by J.N.

I'm absolutely hooked on the first album, 'Inform Educate Entertain'. Gorgeous old clips of people talking proper. 'Glasgow' with a long S. Lovely.

 

And the obviously pissed high-ranking naval officer is a hoot.

 

John.

Posted on: 20 March 2015 by Bruce Woodhouse

The first two albums are going down well enough here too but it is still those iconic NASA voices that are doing it for me. Glad so many others have been enjoying too.

 

Bruce

Posted on: 21 March 2015 by J.N.

Yeah; know what you mean about those strangely emotive NASA voices Bruce. I suppose the enormity of man's technological endeavours and achievements resonates in all of us.

 

John.