17-May-2010

Perth Bands

The four masked wonders who form Stereoflower have finally realised their unique vision of alt-country with It's Alright, It's OK, Satellite Commander.

Slowly whirring into life with a short soundtrack of static and grand synths, the album then kicks into high-octane territory with the soaring single, The Cocaine Bebop. The Cocaine Bebop sets the scene for the rest of the album, with vocals from frontman/mastermind Alex Elbery and Doctor Blythe punctuated with sublime lead breaks from lead guitarist Rufus Marmaduke and topped with a churning bassline and rock-solid, minimalist drumming. The result is an infectious, toe-tapping experience that will leave you with a smile on your face.

The rest of the album follows suit as the tracks dances past in a whirl of joyous release (If Wishes Were Horses... is a good example). There is a general sense of charming optimism in the album, like Stereoflower have managed to bottle of summer sunshine in a jar and distill into a stream of musical notes.

This album is also expressive for its production values, with effort and attention to detail given to how this album sounds. While being recorded at a variety of places may indicate a disjointed product (including Underground Studios, and the home studios of Elbery and Tim Sherry, and also produced by Elbery and Laurie Singara) the result is seamless. The album sounds expansive and balanced with each track effortlessly melting into the other, and there is just enough gritty grunge added into the mix to give the songs some bite.

It's Alright, It's OK, Satellite Commander is a catchy album and a great pick-me-up for those times when there's a dark cloud in the horizon.

CISSI TSANG