This 6-track EP from Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast ain't the first rodeo for the North Carolina-based band, who released the album Lost My Sight in 2020. But I suspect it’ll be an introductory calling card for lots of people, me included. And on the strength of Blueprints, I’m pleased to make their acquaintance.
Opening track ‘Devil On Your Side’ has a loping beat and funky ticking guitar, to which Caitlin Krisko adds a cool vocal on the neat melody, before it flips into a sparky chorus. Maybe it doesn’t flow perfectly, but with its bass-bumping, reverb-heavy bridge it packs a lot into less than
three minutes, and develops an appealingly modern soul feel.
‘Blue Monday’ picks up that modern soul baton and produces a slinky crossover vibe with a clever arrangement that serves up twirls of twangy guitar and chattering backing vocals, and if Krisko’s voice isn’t unique it’s still good enough to live up to the material with ease.
‘Piece Of You’ is even better, with a fizzing and popping guitar riff from Aaron Austin and quick-pulsing bass from William Seymour over Michael W Davis’ crisp beat, with plenty of oomph in the chorus. Austin adds some swanky guitar filigrees, and here Krisko’s vocals show off more guts and power. These opening tracks feel like tentative, but promising, first steps towards the kind of glossy, up-to-the-minute blues-rock crossovers pursued by Samantha Fish.
On the second half of the EP the Broadcast continue to keep up the good work, but in a more traditional vein. ‘Haunted By You’ is a blues ballad, taken real slow and decorated by some swooning guitar, while Krisko sings with poise, feeling and good phrasing. Paradoxically it’s neatly put together, with piano remarks and flutters of guitar, but they still keep it simple, allowing the strength of Krisko’s sensitive delivery to come through.
‘Operator’ is fun soul with some echoes of Motown – but only distantly amid the sleek combination of funky bass and shimmers of guitar, while Krisko injects a dash of urgency into her vocal. There’s a snazzy bridge too, and a spiky, needle-sharp guitar break from Austin to add more zip.
The aching soul of ‘Have To Say Goodbye’ could be a torch song, but I reckon Krisko is actually reflecting – here and on other tracks – on the death of her mother in 2023. In that context the plaintive edge to her vocal comes over as both apt and convincing, while Austin is also on the money with a guitar solo that patiently works around the melody.
With Blueprints it’s clear that Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast have blues and soul roots, but also the smarts to make sure they don’t get stuck in the past. I’m hoping their next outing will show further evolution.
The Blueprints EP is out now, and can be ordered here.
Opening track ‘Devil On Your Side’ has a loping beat and funky ticking guitar, to which Caitlin Krisko adds a cool vocal on the neat melody, before it flips into a sparky chorus. Maybe it doesn’t flow perfectly, but with its bass-bumping, reverb-heavy bridge it packs a lot into less than
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| Caitlin Krisko in live broadcast mode Pic by Manny Manson |
‘Blue Monday’ picks up that modern soul baton and produces a slinky crossover vibe with a clever arrangement that serves up twirls of twangy guitar and chattering backing vocals, and if Krisko’s voice isn’t unique it’s still good enough to live up to the material with ease.
‘Piece Of You’ is even better, with a fizzing and popping guitar riff from Aaron Austin and quick-pulsing bass from William Seymour over Michael W Davis’ crisp beat, with plenty of oomph in the chorus. Austin adds some swanky guitar filigrees, and here Krisko’s vocals show off more guts and power. These opening tracks feel like tentative, but promising, first steps towards the kind of glossy, up-to-the-minute blues-rock crossovers pursued by Samantha Fish.
On the second half of the EP the Broadcast continue to keep up the good work, but in a more traditional vein. ‘Haunted By You’ is a blues ballad, taken real slow and decorated by some swooning guitar, while Krisko sings with poise, feeling and good phrasing. Paradoxically it’s neatly put together, with piano remarks and flutters of guitar, but they still keep it simple, allowing the strength of Krisko’s sensitive delivery to come through.
‘Operator’ is fun soul with some echoes of Motown – but only distantly amid the sleek combination of funky bass and shimmers of guitar, while Krisko injects a dash of urgency into her vocal. There’s a snazzy bridge too, and a spiky, needle-sharp guitar break from Austin to add more zip.
The aching soul of ‘Have To Say Goodbye’ could be a torch song, but I reckon Krisko is actually reflecting – here and on other tracks – on the death of her mother in 2023. In that context the plaintive edge to her vocal comes over as both apt and convincing, while Austin is also on the money with a guitar solo that patiently works around the melody.
With Blueprints it’s clear that Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast have blues and soul roots, but also the smarts to make sure they don’t get stuck in the past. I’m hoping their next outing will show further evolution.
The Blueprints EP is out now, and can be ordered here.
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