I Satellite - Auto:matic

Robot Parade
Bubbleboy
I Want You
Retropolis
12:15 Friday Night
Automat
Polaroid
Where In The World
Orion
Out Of Space

This is the independently released debut album for the band/project I Satellite, entitled "Auto:Matic" and featuring some tracks highlighted on a few previous compilations, as well as several all-new songs that see their first release here. I Satellite plays the simple analog synthpop that we remember from the golden days of synth music, full of sweet synth swirls, highly addictive choruses and a slight quirky sensibility in lyricism. 

"Bubbleboy" is the track that hooked me on this band, and I suspect that it has hooked several other synth fans, judging from the sales numbers I've seen so far. It, as well as "12:15 Friday Night" and "Where In The World", are the most pop-friendly tracks on the album, and each of those tracks has been featured on a compilation previously. Well deservedly, too, as these are some incredibly catchy tunes, and in my opinion each would do well as a single.

Two of the songs here, "I Want You" and "Automat", are a little different stylistically than the others, reminding me a little of the Gary Numan material I've heard. Somewhat more robotic and rhythm-based than the other tracks, with maybe a slight similarity to some of Gary Flanagan's material.

The album has a number of instrumental tracks, with "Robot Parade", "Retropolis", "Polaroid" and "Orion" all being new instrumental tracks on the album. They range from the bubbly poppiness of "Robot Parade" to the more laid-back groove of "Polaroid", and each of the instrumentals is varied and diverse enough to hold my interest throughout. That's something that is hard to do, with this many instrumentals on the album, but is pulled off quite well here.

All in all, this is a very good debut album. This project shows a lot of promise, and I am really looking forward to the next release. However, the band has said they'll be trying out a whole new recording scheme - I just hope that won't affect their sound too much. I like the musical nitch they've carved out for themselves here, and think it suits the artist well. All that aside, this is a album well worth getting. Highly recommended!

Added:  Thursday, April 03, 2003
Reviewer:  Jason Baker
Score:
Related web link:  Official Website
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Language: eng