Ho Hum Sound

Broadcast’s third album, Ha Ha Sound, delivers the same consistency of quirkiness that fans have come to expect. Between the dream-like melodies, Trish Keenan’s sweetly valium-induced vocals, odd novelty sound effects, and a good charge of psychedelic Velvet Underground-ish influences, this album is thoroughly stylized and branded with Broadcast’s richly unique sound.Unfortunately, it isn’t as intriguing as the band’s previous albums. Each song doesn’t stand on its own, kind of blending into each other; sounding much like the former, current, and latter. It is difficult to distinguish which is which. When that is done purposefully, it can be an interesting, often enjoyable experience…but Ha Ha Sound does not quite achieve that “enjoyable” status. Much of it is based on solid percussion as in “Distorsion,” but irritatingly drones on with all-too repetitive vocals, as in “Oh How I Miss You.” Don’t misunderstand: it’s good to see bands that are still trying new things. But it is disappointing, after such successes like the previous album The Noise Made By People, to see this album turn out so ho-hum.