Artist Review: Satellite Stories, Pine Trails
Artist: Satellite Stories
Album: Pine Trails
Genre: Electro Pop-Rock
RIYL: Phoenix, Keane, The Killers, Two Door Cinema Club
One of the reasons I really love writing about music is for moments like this; at Indie-Music we have a platform to share music from all over the world, and that now includes Finnish electro pop-rock band Satellite Stories. With the release of Pine Trails, this band is poised for a MUCH wider audience. All of the pieces are in place; now all that’s left is for everyone else to discover the wonderfulness of Finland’s finest.
Right out of the gate, it’s clear that “Campfire” is lighting the way for the rest of the record that follows. It’s upbeat, ridiculously catchy and shows a crazy amount of talent at the core of the band. And that core is frontman Esa Mankinen, who possesses a magnetic and mercurial voice that sends this and every other song into the sonic stratosphere. He has great versatility, range and timbre and utilizes it to maximum effect all over this record. “Pinewood Parkways” and “Season of B-Sides” follow with a sense of assuredness, proving that the opening track is no fluke. “Australia (Don’t Ever Let Her Go)” is a song with massive hit potential, a cheeky earworm that wouldn’t leave my head for nearly a week after the first listen.
“A Great Escape” departs slightly from the straightforward driving beat of the previous tracks, and provides a smart melodic break from formula and truly highlights the other players in the band. It’s not easy to overlook Mankinen, but Marko Heikkinen (lead guitar), Jyri Pesonen (bass/vocals) and Olli-Pekka Ervasti (drums) more than hold their own and truly provide the backbone that allows their frontman to push vocally. Track after track delivers a one-two punch of rhythm and melody; “The Tune of Letting Go” and “Champagne Eyes” finds the band reaching further out of their comfort zone, and it pays off in spades.
“Lights Go Low” is actually the first song I heard off the album, and it immediately won me over and made me want to hear so much more. It’s a great introduction to all the best Satellite Stories has to offer sonically. “December Theme” and the charming “Lorraine” bring yet another dimension of songwriting and performance style to a record that is already filled with an abundance of melodically rich tracks.
Satellite Stories write infectious, delightfully dynamic and powerful pop-rock songs that shimmy and shake their way out of the speakers. Pine Trails is beautifully produced, and even better performed, with a confidence and style that will put a smile on your face and have your head bobbing and feet moving in no time flat. This is a band you should get to know, because this is a pitch perfect pop record that is neither trite nor simplistic. Pine Trails is majestic, warm and well-worn in its brilliance.
Satellite Stories website: http://satellitestories.com/
(This originally appeared on Indie-Music.com at: http://www.indie-music.com/ee/index.php/blog/comments/review_satellite_stories_pine_trails)
Album: Pine Trails
Genre: Electro Pop-Rock
RIYL: Phoenix, Keane, The Killers, Two Door Cinema Club
One of the reasons I really love writing about music is for moments like this; at Indie-Music we have a platform to share music from all over the world, and that now includes Finnish electro pop-rock band Satellite Stories. With the release of Pine Trails, this band is poised for a MUCH wider audience. All of the pieces are in place; now all that’s left is for everyone else to discover the wonderfulness of Finland’s finest.
Right out of the gate, it’s clear that “Campfire” is lighting the way for the rest of the record that follows. It’s upbeat, ridiculously catchy and shows a crazy amount of talent at the core of the band. And that core is frontman Esa Mankinen, who possesses a magnetic and mercurial voice that sends this and every other song into the sonic stratosphere. He has great versatility, range and timbre and utilizes it to maximum effect all over this record. “Pinewood Parkways” and “Season of B-Sides” follow with a sense of assuredness, proving that the opening track is no fluke. “Australia (Don’t Ever Let Her Go)” is a song with massive hit potential, a cheeky earworm that wouldn’t leave my head for nearly a week after the first listen.
“A Great Escape” departs slightly from the straightforward driving beat of the previous tracks, and provides a smart melodic break from formula and truly highlights the other players in the band. It’s not easy to overlook Mankinen, but Marko Heikkinen (lead guitar), Jyri Pesonen (bass/vocals) and Olli-Pekka Ervasti (drums) more than hold their own and truly provide the backbone that allows their frontman to push vocally. Track after track delivers a one-two punch of rhythm and melody; “The Tune of Letting Go” and “Champagne Eyes” finds the band reaching further out of their comfort zone, and it pays off in spades.
“Lights Go Low” is actually the first song I heard off the album, and it immediately won me over and made me want to hear so much more. It’s a great introduction to all the best Satellite Stories has to offer sonically. “December Theme” and the charming “Lorraine” bring yet another dimension of songwriting and performance style to a record that is already filled with an abundance of melodically rich tracks.
Satellite Stories write infectious, delightfully dynamic and powerful pop-rock songs that shimmy and shake their way out of the speakers. Pine Trails is beautifully produced, and even better performed, with a confidence and style that will put a smile on your face and have your head bobbing and feet moving in no time flat. This is a band you should get to know, because this is a pitch perfect pop record that is neither trite nor simplistic. Pine Trails is majestic, warm and well-worn in its brilliance.
Satellite Stories website: http://satellitestories.com/
(This originally appeared on Indie-Music.com at: http://www.indie-music.com/ee/index.php/blog/comments/review_satellite_stories_pine_trails)
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