Album Review: Public Service Broadcasting Gives Space Fantasies In “Live At Brixton”

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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.


//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/platform.jsAs the record progresses, more speeches on space and human wonder for the cosmos are given over sounds that are innately whimsical. From the rock odyssey of “Signal 30” to the techno freneticism of “Go!”, the pacing and pulse of this record is as vast as Space, itself. You can see planets and galaxies zoom past your mind as you hear radio broadcasts of astronauts preparing to land. PBS have made a rocketship of music that lifts you off like no other other live band. There are instances like in “Valentina” where you think you are floating in a bundle of stardust, and your heart feels safe despite the lack of gravity to hold it down. Then, there are other moments like in “Gagarin” where you think you are in the “Star Wars” cantina dancing with aliens, whose crazy colors, shapes, and creeds mystify you rather than scare you. To build a universe in listeners’ minds is a major desire/feat for any artist, but to make that universe a welcoming and layered experience is a rare gem. Public Service Broadcasting have done that with Live At Braxton, by giving sonic proof that their album, The Race For Space, and their concert is an overwhelmingly good show.

//cdn.embedly.com/widgets/platform.jsI cannot imagine the joy of their crowd at when they heard this PBS live. It must have been like a Space Fairy came down from Jupiter and spread a magical elixir of happiness over them. Live At Brixton both encapsulates the “epicness” of their concert while making you go on Songkick and place an alert for any time PBS is in your area for a live show. In a time, where artists make the most of their money and fame through tours, Live At Brixton brilliantly makes you want to see Public Service Broadcasting in concert. For More Information On Public Service Broadcasting And To Buy Live At Brixton Click Here. 

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

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