Broken switches - broken switches

Broken Switches

Broken Switches
self-released; 2013

3.9 out of 5


By Ted Rogen

Being someone who listens to an ample amount of new music a week it may take a bit more for me to perk up my ears and take notice. One of the first things I listen for is originality and when I was listened to the self-titled album Broken Switches by Broken Switches this was the first thing I noticed. Broken Switches uses feedback, live electronics and also uses guitar and organic drums to make his music. The music is dark and often sounds like you are listening to it in another room. It’s almost as if it is completely disconnected with the listener at points. Take for instance the opening track “GUHJ” which is 11 minutes long. The drums sound distant as if played at the end of a hallway as dark ominous tones swirl in a concoction of sounds. Sometimes the drums drop out suddenly and it throws you for a loop before starting again without notice. It is often the subtleties that give the song a sense of progression. The finely tuned synths can make all the difference in making the song not feel stagnant. There are some vocals here but they are minimal and are so buried that they are negligible.

The second song “Us” is the shortest of the three songs lasting over five minutes. It loops a rhythmically complex drum pattern that creates the only backbone the song has. The other components nestle against one each other creating a fog of dark textures. There is change in this song however it is all about the subtleties. It is the microevolution of the fog as it slowly mutates from one state to another and mimics the characteristics of a virus that adapts to its surroundings. The last song “Outside Interference” is the most cohesive and the least dark of the three songs. It feels like a band is playing as you have distinct parts for the drums, bass and guitars. The main start is still the live electronics and feedback but it was nice to end the album with a bit more structure.

This is an experimental album but also an original one that made me thankful that people are still trying to push the limits and explore new boundaries.

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