Autons
Who Do You Think You Are Kidding?
Wednesday 10th of March 2010
Autons follow up on their Short-Term Manifesto with full length LP, Who Do You Think You Are Kidding?
'Politicians' is an electro-protest that takes a well deserved swing at the men in charge. This song is a great choice for the opener, building layers on layers to gradually work the song up into a frenzy.
Moving away from the politics, 'Weekend' is a big party track with a solid disco beat and an Alex James style bass line. The chorus is an anthemic dance-floor chant with swirling synth sounds.
'Amazing' uses a scuzzy guitar sound and punk-esque chord progression to stomp through the verse, with the chorus adding a fuzz-pop element to the song.
The record continues to transform on a song by song basis, with 'Runaway Train' slowing things down with a moody atmospheric tune with an eventual wall-of-noise explosive ending. This leads nicely into the quirky Mexican beat of 'Crystal' - a song that I absolutely love.
Maintaining the momentum and the quality, 'Sleepwalker' buzzes along with some fuzzy guitars and a casual vocal style.
There's an unusual seventies intermission for 'Don't Break The Spell', which is the strangest transition on the album. That isn't to say it's not a good tune - it just comes as a bit of a surprise.
The record slides back into the electro-rock arena for 'Watery Grave', although there are little echoes of 'Don't Break The Spell' beneath the surface of this song within the backing vocals.
'Election Singer' is a frantic track with some good harmonies in the chorus, which contrast with the spoken-melody in the verse. The switch from the balls-out pace to the pumping breaks really give this song a bit boost.
It all ends with 'Ferris Wheel', which adds another twist to this tale. Echoed notes and soft melody combine to create a gentleness that you just wouldn't expect from this record. The orchestral sounding distant drums, harp and haunting backing vocals make this song truly unique.
Autons are a band full of evolution in their ideas. They merge ideas into their sound and keep each song sounding fresh and new throughout this entire album. This is a genuinely good listen.
Author: Steve
Label: Jelly Maid Music
Found in: Record Reviews
Official Rating
We rated this record 4 out of 5.