15 to 20 years ago, I’d wager the music press would have had a field day with this band over their name. ‘Steaming’ has so many amusing and negative connotations, you have to wonder what possessed them to choose such a name. But the 21st century has seen the death of irony and, seemingly, the kind of slamming review that made reading ‘Melody Maker’ such fun. In the age of the Internet, while trolling is rife, critics are, on the whole, incredibly polite, nice even. Maybe they’re afraid of recrimination or being swamped by countercriticism in the comments section. Maybe they live in fear of litigation, or simply having their supply of promos cut off. Wimps, the lot of them.
So, this Austrian act have thus far been likened to Kings of Leon and Cold War Kids, and their singer, Max Borchardt’s vocals have found comparisons to KoL’s Caleb Followill and a Young Rod Stewart. Which is great, if those acts are your scene, and for many, they are, but let’s get this straight: it doesn’t make them good by default.
The truth is that across the album’s ok. Technically, musically, and in terms of production, it’s solid, as is the songwriting. They pack some taut, lightly funky grooves and they’ve certainly got that classic / vintage sound nailed. There’s certainly a Faces vibe infused throughout the album, but equally, hints of Ocean Colour Scene and Reef.
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‘Fill the Cup’ feels somewhat out of place: being a more overtly contemporary-sounding pop song, more middling indie than vintage rock, it sits awkwardly against the bulk of the material. ‘Unfold’ is the big, lighter-waving slowie, and penultimate track ‘Secret Desire’ is a classic slow-builder, a rick they repeat on the closer, ‘Move On’. All of this adds up to an album that’s not heinous, but it treads a well-worn path.
It’s not steaming in the worst sense, but then nor is it exactly so hot it’s going to set the world on fire.
Steaming Satellites Online
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