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LISTEN + BUY @ AMAZON |
BOOM BOOM SATELLITES - FULL OF ELEVATING PLEASURES (TOFU RECORDS) |
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The Boom Boom Satellites' "Full of Elevating
Pleasures" is moderately eclectic, though the net
isn't cast terribly wide, by which I mean that they
always sound like same band. The real divergence comes
with track quality. The band is a fusion of guitar
oriented alternative/modern rock and industrial and
some drum & bass (such as the guitar and D&B opener,
"Rise and Fall". The band is strongest when focusing
on the electronic elements but considerably weaker
when these go by the wayside. A strong piece on the
album is "Moment I Count", a goa-tinged, hypnotic,
high-speed and heavy industrial rock track dripping
with acid. The band does dilute its overall potency
slightly with more average rock-based material like
"Let It All Come Down". Despite weaker moments, the
band leaves one with an overall good impression,
thanks to the fact that when they do go industrial,
they do so well. Right after "Moment I Count" is the
dark, heady industrial punch of "Ride On." "Spine"
recalls a bit of Mindless Self Indulgence's
inpunkstrial sound. "Route for Exile" seems weak at
first but a closer listen reveals remarkable subtley
and a fairly balanced blend of rock and industrial
numbers; it's also fairly progressive and makes for a
slow and mild but hooky crescendo. "Back in the Night"
summons a bit of KMFDMishness and more of the goa-feel
and is a high point on the album. "Propeller" is one
of the quirkier bits and manages to somehow obliquely
reference retro psychedelia while totally being a
modern piece of psytronica and catchy vocal hooks. On
"Dive for You," the rock element is in command though
electronic elements are infused throughout; not one of
the stronger songs on the disc, but not bad, either.
"Anthem (reprise)" boasts some big, spacey electronic
melody, like what you'd expect from massive trance but
restructured to The Boom Boom Satellites style and
employing a crescendoing D&B skeleton (it also reminds
me of Yes when it was a prog band). One of the finer
numbers here is "Echo Tail," which flirts with
experimentation and combines subdued percussion
elements with piano lines; very engrossing. The disc
closes with "Stride," also a moody number but with
different instrumentation. It has lush electronic buzz
and is very deep space and slow-groovy, a tight way to
end the album. One of the strengths of BBS is the
band's ability to be vocal heavy without distracting
from the power of the electronic and industrial
elements. Despite the album's sagging in a couple of
spots, this is still a solid release, revealing
competent songwriting skills and commendable
eclecticism (though, paradoxically, I think I'd have
liked the album even more if it wasn't as diverse).-- review by Kristofer Upjohn
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