It was eight years ago when London-based J Willgoose, Esq. came up with the concept for Public Service Broadcasting. He would create music around samples from old public information films and archive footage with the objective of “teaching the lessons of the past through the music of the future.”
Willgoose premiered what was then a one-man-show at a pub in Tooting, south London, in August, 2009. Although the audience response was positive, it proved difficult to present what was a complex performance as a solo artist.
Recruiting Wrigglesworth as a second multi-instrumentalist opened up greater possibilities. It was also useful to have help in transporting the vintage television sets and modern video projection devices which form an integral part of Public Service Broadcasting’s live shows.
Their 2010 recording debut, EP One, was praised by critics. But it was their 2010 second EP, The War Room, which really got them noticed. With unrestricted access to the British Film Institute’s archives, Willgoose and Wrigglesworth wove spoken word and sound effect samples from World War II public information films through a magical mix of electronic music ranging from indie-rock to synth-pop and krautrock to drum ‘n’ bass.
The project was particularly poignant for Willgoose and his family. The War Room was dedicated to his great-uncle, George Willgoose, who was killed at Dunkirk, aged just 26. It is George’s banjolele which Willgoose now plays.
Another EP, Signal 30, was followed by their 2013 debut album, Inform - Educate - Entertain. Tracks covered everything from the creation of the Spitfire aircraft to the conquering of Mount Everest and the invention of colour television to a clearly drunk Thomas Woodrooffe’s 1937 radio broadcast at the Spithead naval review. The album confirmed Public Service Broadcasting’s growing popularity by peaking at number 21 on the UK chart.
Despite the suggestion by some critics that their musical formula could become repetitive, the duo’s second album, 2015’s The Race for Space, proved even more popular. It reached number 11 in Britain.
“I did wonder where we might go after the first album,” Willgoose admitted. “But the space race suggested itself for a number of reasons, not least the fact that I was very interested in it.
“I did a lot of reading, watched documentaries and of course scoured the NASA Audio Collection and BFI archives. I also used the excellent Apollo Flight Journal which was a great help. I was concerned about getting Russian footage but the BFI inherited a whole tranche of Russian material so it was relatively plain sailing once this fell into place.”
The album also marked a change of musical direction. While spoken word samples remained prevalent, a choir was used on two tracks and English indie folk duo Smoke Fairies, Katherine Blamire and Jessica Davies, provided vocals on Valentina, a song about Valentina Tereshkova, the first female cosmonaut.
“The earlier songs didn’t need additional vocals. The archive samples provided the lyrics. Also, I was no singer. I didn’t feel like I’d be happy doing vocals on a song and I wouldn’t be comfortable playing it to other people.”
Despite his words, Willgoose does sing on a track from Public Service Broadcasting’s smash hit new album, Every Valley.
“My vocals are on You + Me which is an English and Welsh language duet with Lisa-Jen Brown of the Welsh indie-folk band, 9Bach. I had no plans to sing but the intended vocalist didn’t turn up so I was pretty much obliged to sing on the track.”
Every Valley documents the decline of the mining industry in Wales.
“I actually had the idea for this album before The Race for Space. I wanted to get away from big, epic subjects and do something on a more human level.
“Through the National Union of Mineworkers, I was able to record interviews with old miners. There was also a great deal of audio and film in the South Wales Miners Library at Swansea University.”
Now a trio thanks to the permanent recruitment of J.F. Abraham, who had recorded and played live with Willgoose and Wrigglesworth for several years, Public Service Broadcasting recorded Every Valley at a hall in the south Wales town of Ebbw Vale. In addition to Lisa-Jen Brown, other guest vocals were provided by the Beaufort Male Choir, James Dean Bradfield of Manic Street Preachers and Tracyanne Campbell of Camera Obscura.
“It seemed important to record the album in south Wales. I wanted it to feel connected to the area it was written about in ways our previous albums hadn’t been.”
A staunch supporter of Britain’s Labour Party, while Willgoose insists Every Valley is not overtly political, the miners’ strike of 1984-85 features prominently on the album. Led by Arthur Scargill of the NUM against Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative government, many mineworkers were divided about the strike action because there had been no national vote. This was also the reason why so few other major unions supported the NUM.
These facts are not mentioned on Every Valley. To be fair, it specifically reflects the views of the south Wales mining community although Willgoose says the album’s themes are not just about Wales.
“The story of the Welsh mining industry is mirrored in abandoned and neglected communities across the western world. It has led to the resurgence of a particularly malignant, cynical and calculating brand of politics.”

In brief

Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran’s album and singles sales suggest he is probably the most popular artist on the planet. But it seems this is not the case among fans of the Game of Thrones television series.
The opening episode of the latest series was marked, some would say marred, by a cameo appearance from Ed. He played a soldier who sings a song while sitting around a campfire with a group of other soldiers.
Actress Maisie Williams, who plays Arya Stark, is a massive fan. It was her devotion to Ed’s music which prompted Game of Thrones co-creator David Benioff to have Ed appear on the show as a surprise for Maisie. Indeed, David had apparently been attempting to arrange things with Ed for several years.
Maisie joined the scene as her character overheard Ed’s singing. She was invited to share a meal with the soldiers although Ed’s dialogue with her was restricted to just two lines.
His cameo was not well received. One fan unkindly insisted it was the worst thing he had ever seen on the show.
Ed is by no means the first music star to feature on Game of Thrones. Guitarist Wilko Johnson played mute executioner Ser Ilyn Payne in four episodes while Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody and Coldplay’s Will Champion, along with members of Mastodon, Sigur Ros and Of Monsters and Men, have all made cameo appearances.
Ed had already said he no longer intended to read his Twitter page because of the abusive comments he was receiving. The backlash now has caused him to delete the account.
Let us hope fans of The Simpsons cartoon series might be a little kinder. Ed recently announced he would be the latest music star to appear on the show.

Billy Corgan
Billy Corgan fans with some money to spare might be interested in buying at least one of the 150 items which Billy will soon be offering for sale at reverb.com
The Billy Corgan Reverb Shop opens on August 16. It will feature a range of Billy’s personal musical possessions covering his time with Smashing Pumpkins, Zwan and as a solo artist.
A few of the star lots include a modified 1988 Fender Stratocaster guitar, two Alesis drum machines, a 1969 Gibson EB-3 bass guitar and a vintage 1950s accordion. All instruments and equipment are provenanced from their use on specific songs, albums and tours.
For more details, visit (no www.) reverb.com/news/billy-corgan-artist-shop-preview

Kid Rock
Kid Rock has declared his intention to run for office at the next election to the US Senate.
Real name Robert Ritchie, Kid Rock is no stranger to the political arena. He campaigned for Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential election and even sold Trump merchandise. He has now begun his own campaign with “Kid Rock for U.S. Senate” bumper stickers, T-shirts, caps and yard signs.
Fans have questioned if this might be a marketing ploy in advance of a new album. But Kid has been at pains to insist his campaign is genuine and he will seek election as the Republican candidate for his home state of Michigan on November 6, 2018.
If Kid does run, he will struggle to unseat the Democrat incumbent, Debbie Strabenow. She has represented Michigan in the Senate since 2000.

Ariana Grande
Singer Ariana Grande has become the first person to be made an honorary citizen of Manchester.
The award was bestowed upon her in recognition of Ariana’s response to the murder of 22 people, and maiming of many more, by a suicide bomber at the end of her concert at the Manchester Arena on May 22.
Ariana quickly arranged the One Love benefit concert which took place at the Emirates Old Trafford cricket ground on June 4.
Apart from Freedom of the City, Manchester council had no award to recognise outstanding and exceptional contributions. They created the honorary citizen status especially for a very grateful Ariana.
“I don’t know what to say,” she stated. “I’m moved and honoured. My heart is still very much in Manchester. I love you. Thank you.”


Related Story