Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast - Blueprints EP
Six track EP Blueprints showcases the various soul-pop and blues shades of Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast, whose sound and perhaps not uncoincidentally, name, subtly changed with the release of 2022 single 'Devil On Your Side,' which also leads off this EP.
(The band’s earlier, more 60s influenced trio of releases were under the name The Broadcast; all three albums are worthy of attention, with special nod to the Jim Scott produced From The Horizon, released in 2016).
Blueprints is also, in part, a collated representation of the band’s progress these last two years as Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast, with the majority of the tracks having appeared as earlier singles.
The aforementioned 'Devil On Your Side' is the funkier, slinky-soul side of the band; Michael W. Davis (drums) and William Seymour (bass) create the groove for Aaron Austin’s guitar to chop and chime over, while Caitlin Krisko’s sultry pop vocal takes charge.
'Blue Monday,' which opens with an effected sound as if played on AM radio, shifts up and out of radio mode to provide the listener with a crossover ballad that carries country (and western) stylings on Aaron Austin’s guitar parts embedded within a rhythmic, pop-sheen that is in danger of drifting into bosa nova (but thankfully doesn’t).
'Piece Of You,' which follows, is a tasty slice of modern, slightly Nashville-ised rock and roll, complete with a bass pumping middle 8/ break that leads to a strong, sassily voiced finish (think a more roots and roll based Pat Benatar).
Downtempo contrast then comes by way of 'Haunted By You' (top of Spotify's 2022 Blues Ballads playlist).
A soulful, gospel-tinged blues ballad (with well-arranged backing vocals), the number features piano, guitar and Caitlin Krisko’s vocal (a lovely mix of melancholy and melody) playing in simple but beautifully woven harmony.
'Operator' returns to the funkier side of the band but here couched as a fizzy, ever-so-slightly disco rhythm and blues; William Seymour’s bass lines are a highlight of this number, as is Aaron Austin’s short and snappy guitar solo.
The soulful, slow-tempo blues-pop of 'Have To Say Goodbye' may well be a love lost number, but it’s also likely to have been inspired by/ written in memory of Caitlin Krisko’s mother, who passed unexpectedly in 2023 ("there’s still so much more to say and do, I don’t want to let go of you").
It’s therefore unsurprising that it features a genuinely heartfelt vocal from Krisko, her otherwise controlled vibrato in full cry (in both senses) towards song’s end.
Detroit born, NYC raised and North Carolina based means Caitlin Krisko has a myriad of musical influences, including rock, pop, soul, Motown, blues, funk and roots.
All such influences can be heard on Blueprints, and to generally fine effect; but going forward, The Broadcast of her music on the next full-length album should probably be a little more focussed.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Stream/ purchase Blueprints at https://ffm.to/krisko
(The band’s earlier, more 60s influenced trio of releases were under the name The Broadcast; all three albums are worthy of attention, with special nod to the Jim Scott produced From The Horizon, released in 2016).
Blueprints is also, in part, a collated representation of the band’s progress these last two years as Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast, with the majority of the tracks having appeared as earlier singles.
The aforementioned 'Devil On Your Side' is the funkier, slinky-soul side of the band; Michael W. Davis (drums) and William Seymour (bass) create the groove for Aaron Austin’s guitar to chop and chime over, while Caitlin Krisko’s sultry pop vocal takes charge.
'Blue Monday,' which opens with an effected sound as if played on AM radio, shifts up and out of radio mode to provide the listener with a crossover ballad that carries country (and western) stylings on Aaron Austin’s guitar parts embedded within a rhythmic, pop-sheen that is in danger of drifting into bosa nova (but thankfully doesn’t).
'Piece Of You,' which follows, is a tasty slice of modern, slightly Nashville-ised rock and roll, complete with a bass pumping middle 8/ break that leads to a strong, sassily voiced finish (think a more roots and roll based Pat Benatar).
Downtempo contrast then comes by way of 'Haunted By You' (top of Spotify's 2022 Blues Ballads playlist).
A soulful, gospel-tinged blues ballad (with well-arranged backing vocals), the number features piano, guitar and Caitlin Krisko’s vocal (a lovely mix of melancholy and melody) playing in simple but beautifully woven harmony.
'Operator' returns to the funkier side of the band but here couched as a fizzy, ever-so-slightly disco rhythm and blues; William Seymour’s bass lines are a highlight of this number, as is Aaron Austin’s short and snappy guitar solo.
The soulful, slow-tempo blues-pop of 'Have To Say Goodbye' may well be a love lost number, but it’s also likely to have been inspired by/ written in memory of Caitlin Krisko’s mother, who passed unexpectedly in 2023 ("there’s still so much more to say and do, I don’t want to let go of you").
It’s therefore unsurprising that it features a genuinely heartfelt vocal from Krisko, her otherwise controlled vibrato in full cry (in both senses) towards song’s end.
Detroit born, NYC raised and North Carolina based means Caitlin Krisko has a myriad of musical influences, including rock, pop, soul, Motown, blues, funk and roots.
All such influences can be heard on Blueprints, and to generally fine effect; but going forward, The Broadcast of her music on the next full-length album should probably be a little more focussed.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Stream/ purchase Blueprints at https://ffm.to/krisko
