Public Service Broadcasting are London duo J. Willgoose Esq and Wrigglesworth - not their real names we can assume. Two decent fellows who through the use of guitar, keyboards, drums, electronic instruments, banjos (yes, banjos!!) and some spiffing samples from old Public Service recordings (courtesy of the gentlefolk at the BFI) have created an EP of five instrumentals that do Blighty mighty proud.
A mini-concept album, THE WAR ROOM takes us back 70 years to depths of the Second World War for five wartime vignettes titled 'If War Should Come', 'London Can Take It', 'Spitfire'. 'Dig For Victory' and 'Waltz for George'.
PSB take samples from these old pubic service films and propaganda material and they aim to "teach the lessons of the past through the music of the future". Musically the band sit somewhere between Lemon Jelly's quintessentially British folk-tronica and the dark psychedelic instrumentals from Primal Scream's Vanishing Point or Death In Vegas' Contino Sessions.
The music is great, but it's the smart use of these old samples expertly weaved into the tracks that elevate them to total brilliance, particularly on their tribute to the resilient capital 'London Can Take It" and their ode to "a bird that breaths fire and spits out death and destruction" - 'Spitfire'. It's heroic spine-tingling stuff.
I've include the words from 'London Can Take It' below, originally a report filed by from American correspondent Quentin Reynolds and shown to audiences in the USA in order to shore up support for Britain and her allies. They're inspirational and spine-tingling.
At the moment, this EP is only £2.49 on iTunes UK store. Seriously do yourself a favour.
It's epic!
It's epic!
LONDON CAN TAKE IT
Now it's eight o' clock, Gerry's a little bit late tonight
The dusk is deepening. Soon the nightly battle of London will be on.
This has been a quiet day for us but it won't be a quiet night.
The searchlights are in position. The guns are ready.
The people's army of volunteers are ready.
They are the ones who are really fighting this war.
Brokers, clerks, pedlars, merchants by day. They are heroes by night.
These are not Hollywood sounds effects.
This is the music they play every night in London.
The symphony of war.
London can take it.
London raises her head, shakes the debris of the night from her hair
and takes stock of the damage done.
The sign of a great fighter in the ring is,
can he get up from the floor after being knocked down.
London does this every morning.
There is no panic, no fear, no despair in London town.
London can take it.
The night is long, but sooner or later the dawn will come.
'LONDON CAN TAKE IT'
'SPITFIRE'
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