Satellite-state Debut EP Review
UK Indie Band Offers 4 Tracks of Music Par Excellence
UK indie band {satellite-state} was first featured on Suite101 just over a year ago, as their demo CD began to make waves in their native country. The band’s shimmering melodies, strong vocals and exquisite songwriting skills were, quite rightly, putting them in the glare of the UK media, both mainstream and specialist. Now they’re back with their debut EP and it’s one hell of a way to announce yourself proper.
Snow Patrol with Style
The easy and immediate comparison to make would be Irish band Snow Patrol. Vocalist Gary Nicks has that ethereal quality about his voice so reminiscent of the more famous Gary (Lightbody) that it’s initially easy to mistake opening track Plans as the new Snow Patrol single.
However, that would be unfair – Nicks has a far more rounded voice than Lightbody, and whereas the Snow Patrol frontman has a tendency to sound weak live, reports from across the pond suggest this certainly isn’t the case with Nicks.
The song itself is a lesson in how to introduce your band to the world. Soothing synthesizers mix with a lilting bass and drum line, before Nicks’ vocals overlay the whole ensemble, creating an instant hit on your senses and easing you into the whole {satellite-state} experience.
Stadium Rock Awaits
This is followed by Sometimes/Always, which is a deceptive little number. Beginning slowly, it initially feels like it’s about to tread the same route as Plans. Then the pace picks up and evokes memories of classic Mancunian indie band James – albeit a James for the modern age. This is the song that, along with early {satellite-state} track Carry Your Own Weight, will surely see this unassuming yet impressive 5-piece playing to packed stadiums before too long.
Both One Small Step with its looping guitar track and final song Lights Out heightens this. Dark; brooding; underlying malevolence - all sit as uneasy neighbours on this track until the melodic chorus lift the song up. It rounds off an impressive first EP, with not a single weak track on the disc.
There are many great bands going unnoticed at the moment in the music world and, equally, there are just as many poor bands that seem to be enjoying huge success. With their debut EP showing the songwriting skills the band possesses, {satellite-state} deserve to be a mix of the 2 - a great band enjoying huge success.
Highly recommended and a collection of songs that should be on your iPod for a long time to come.
