Broken Records - If the News Makes You Sad, Don't Watch It
by John Clarkson
published: 22 / 4 / 2008

Label:
Young Turks
Format: 7"
intro
Riveting vinyl only debut single from new Edinburgh-based indie electric folk septet, Broken Records
With its opening sound of a cranky bass sputtering up, ‘If the News Makes You Sad, Don’t Watch it’ looks set initially to be another very standard indie record. It is quickly, however, revealed to be anything but that with guitar, violin, cello, piano and even an accordion and a trumpet all within a matter of seconds being blasted into the mix, creating a rattling, sweeping soundscape of gigantic size. Broken Records, an Edinburgh based septet, have been making waves on the central Scotland scene since forming in late 2006, and have played over sixty gigs in the last year, including support slots for Idlewild, Emma Pollock, the Twilight Sad and the Editors. ‘If the News Makes You Sad, Don’t Watch It’, a robust attack on apathy and the never-ending negativity of the news, is their debut single, and released only on 7” vinyl, is limited to just 1000 copies. Arcade Fire are an obvious comparison. The sprawling Edinburgh group have a similar guttural power, but with their earthy Celtic energy and the political nature of some of singer Jamie Sutherland’s lyrics (“That’s what I want to see/No more blood/No tears/No more greed”) , Broken Records’ fervent brand of electric folk rock also slots in a gap somewhere between the Levellers and the mid 80’s Waterboys at the height of their ‘Big Music’ era. In a final twist, ‘If the News Makes You Sad, Don’t Watch It’, as suddenly as it flared up, in its last minute equally dramatically shores away, fading out with a sublime duet between Sutherland’s brother Rory’s violin and the stabbing piano of Ian Turnbull. Its B side, ’Lessons Never Learnt’, is softer in tone throughout, but with its whirring Eastern European Romany- influenced accordions and strings, and the world-weary melancholy of Sutherland’s vocals (“History won’t change/It’s just the same mistakes of angry men who promise change/who will spill blood and take no blame”), similarly and equally effective. This is a riveting and enthralling first single from a new group who seem to trade on surprises and who are a name to be watched out for in coming months.
Track Listing:-
1 If The News Makes You Said, Dont Watch It2 Slow Parade
interviews |
Interview (2014) |
![]() |
John Clarkson speaks to Jamie Sutherland, the singer with much acclaimed Edinburgh-based alternative rock seven-piece act Broken Records about their first album in four years, 'Weights and Pulleys', which they have released on their own label |
reviews |
Until the Earth Begins to Part (2009) |
![]() |
Dynamically tense and magnificent debut album from imaginative Edinburgh-based indie electric folk seven-piece, Broken Records |
most viewed articles
current edition
John McKay - InterviewCathode Ray - Interview
Robert Forster - Interview
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Spear Of Destiny - Interview
Fiona Hutchings - Interview
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Chris Wade - Interview
Shrag - Huw Stephens Session 08.12.10 and Marc Riley Session 21.03.12
Brian Wilson - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
most viewed reviews
current edition
Peter Doolan - I Am a Tree Rooted to the Spot and a Snake Moves Around Me,in a CircleVinny Peculiar - Things Too Long Left Unsaid
Garbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Vultures - Liz Kershaw Session 16.06.88
John McKay - Sixes and #Sevens
Little Simz - Lotus
HAIM - I Quit
Pulp - More
Lapsley - I'm a Hurricane, I'm a Woman In Love
Billy Nomates - Metalhorse
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart