The State Broadcasters EP

Whilst serving time in a number of Glaswegian bands Graeme Black has seen others take off. Belle and Sebastian and Franz Ferdinand have cleared the city and are cruising and a heady altitude. After meeting some willing recruits Graeme now has his own crew on the runway.

The State Braodcasters started life in 2004 when Graeme and Pete MacDonald formed the core. After facing the rigours of finance they now get to show off thier songwriting prowess on this self-titled five track EP.

Promotion is being partly handled by a series of high profile support slots with the likes of The Handsome Family and Damien Jurado. There's also inclusion in the Wendy House Collective. A body of artists looking for recognition in numbers. There's already one CD to mark this venture with another in the pipeline.

First impressions are that these tracks might not be hook-laden but you needn't delve too deep to reach fertile ground. It's actually Graeme's clever wordplay that entices you in. The opener may be based on the sweetest of melodies but 'Archaeological Dig' shows some troubled times in relationships. The authors answer is to,

'......go on a fact finding trip bringing hammers and blades, wellies and spades.'

There are strains of Americana but without any of the cliched chicken-picked fenders of swooning pedal steel. The State Broadcasters bring out graceful shimmering timbres with thier own combination of fiddle, piano and guitar to the fore. Consequently there's folk, country and a dollop of Scottish indie. It's a unique mix and not too dissimilar to that other one band genre the aforementioned Belle and Sebastian.

The literary adventures are revelled in here. There aren't many groups who can cram gender politics, the Antarctic and quiz nights into four minutes. 'South Pole Stag Night' is a case in point though and could be the stand out track here.

'When The War Is Over' is a tender story taken at a funereal pace. A soldier hangs on to a dream of a postwar life with his sweetheart. 'My Binoculars' continues the wistful feel but there's underlying discord;

'Your words they made me so much worse than any weapon could do. But i don't blame you, you could do so much better this is true.'

'Takeshi' is a beauty. A needle bumps against a vinyl record play out groove as a trombone turns the mood deep blue. We're then privy to some very private thoughts and dreams as this bewitching closing track unfolds.

If you ever thought life requires copious levels of courage and humour let The State Broadcasters be your friend and guide.

David Kushar