Concrete Playground

In 2003, while handing me a burnt-copy of Broken Social Scene's You Forgot It In People, a friend provided the following caveat: never trick yourself into thinking you know exactly what Broken Social Scene are going to do next. It was obnoxious advice, but true nonetheless. Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning's sprawling musical collective is an unruly beast, covering an exhausting amount of stylistic ground on record and in live shows. Forgiveness Rock Record (BSS's first proper LP in five years) does not provide an exception. It travels from frenzied to ambient to anthemic and back again, in just under an hour.
 
BSS are coming to Australia this winter for Splendour in the Grass, and while their accompanying sideshows probably won't be among the most-hyped, they should be. Over the years Broken Social Scene has comprised as many as nineteen musicians (including Feist and members of Stars and Metric) and only ever as few as six.  They've provided songs for movie and television soundtracks, and scored several films. Since its release, Forgiveness Rock Record has garnered a waterfall of critical praise, and if a collection of (poorly shot but tantalising) YouTube clips is anything to go by, BSS will please in a live setting as well. 

Tickets on sale Friday, May 14.