Album Review: Public Service Broadcasting Gives Space Fantasies In “Live At Brixton”
Space: The Final Frontier! The cosmos will always fascinate humanity because space is a blatant reminder that we are not alone and that we are not that special. You would think that something that reminds you of your lack of particularity would come off ugly. Yet, Space is the most beautiful thing you will ever see, and gives people the high levels of fantasy that make universality feel more beautiful than uniqueness. In a world that glorifies an individual’s “specialness”, Public Service Broadcasting’s Live At Brixton is a 2 CD/ DVD sonic remembrance that being special is universal.
Live At Brixton was recorded at London’s Brixton Academy, and is a live show of Public Service Broadcasting’s epic 2015 album: The Race For Space. The record is a 17 track, narrative into humanity and its relationship with space, and begins with the stunningly starry composition of the same title, “Race For Space”. As you hear JFK’s speech on America’s dreams to go to the moon, you are riveted with a dreamy adrenaline. You are whisked by excitement at hearing a choir sing in the high octaves of angels, and JFK speak on humanity’s determination to outdo itself and test the boundaries of its capacities. The beauty of his speech meshed with the celestial arrangements of PBS could make you whimper. It strikes for the inner child in every listener that looked at the stars and imagined him or herself among them. Moreover, the mix is a perfect elaboration of their goal: to show you, the listener, through music how humanity, like the cosmos, is unlimited. Still, this ethereal introduction is a gorgeous mislead because PBS is here to fantasize of space but with fun and funky sonics.
Live At Brixton Tracklisting
1. The Race For Space
2. Sputnik
3. Signal 30
4. Theme From PSB
5. Night Mail
6. London Can Take It
7. Valentina
8. Korolev
9. E.V.A.
10. If War Should Come
11. Spitfire
12. Lit Up
13. The Other Side
14. Go!
15. Tomorrow
16. Gagarin
17. Everest
our heart rushes as if you are about to aboard