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Broken Spindles
Fulfilled/Complete
(Saddle Creek)
First Appeared at The Music Box, June 2004, Volume 11, #6
Written by T.J. Simon
Broken Spindles is the techno/electronica outlet of Joel Petersen, bass
player for Omaha’s Goth/New-Wave band The Faint on the hotter-than-blazes Saddle
Creek label (home of Bright Eyes, Rilo Kiley, and Azure Ray). The twist Petersen
brings to the electronica table on Broken Spindles’ second album
Fulfilled/Complete is the incorporation of live violins, violas, and cellos
into his compositions. This combination gives much of the album the ambient mood
of a soundtrack for an unmade, postmodern feature film, and this is probably no
coincidence since the first Broken Spindles album was, in fact, originally
conceived as a movie score.
Half of the tracks on Fulfilled/Complete are instrumental, and they
are the best of the bunch. Typically, a Broken Spindles’ instrumental begins
sparsely with a simple keyboard playing a space-y melody. Gradually, other
musical elements are added to the mix — including drum machines, basslines,
string section, synths, and guitars — until a cohesive, dance-able wall of sound
emerges. The best examples of this composition style are the tracks Song No
Song, Induction, and Practice, Practice, Preach. Generally speaking,
electronica instrumentals such as these frequently run the risk of sounding
boring and repetitive, but Petersen does a terrific job of keeping things fresh,
interesting, and alive.
The weakest moments on Fulfilled/Complete are the five tracks with
Petersen on vocals. Compelling musical beds are marred by his poor singing
voice, thus making otherwise solid tunes sound like Nine Inch Nails-lite or
Depeche Mode-heavy. A robotic vocal delivery á la U2’s 1993 single Numb
sounds contrived and derivative on Broken Spindles’ To Die, For Death,
and the new-wavy Move Away also fails to get off the ground thanks to
some sorry singing.
Taken as a whole, Broken Spindles’ Fulfilled/Complete is worth a
visit, based upon the strength of the innovative instrumental tracks and tight
production. It would be interesting to hear Petersen produce other artists’ work
since his knack for laying down compelling electronica music is clearly
unparalleled. He should, however, leave the singing to the pros. 
Fulfilled/Complete is available from Amazon.com.
To order, Click Here!
For Canadian orders, please
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Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2004
The Music Box
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