Is It Now?

Los Angeles-based trio Automatic are known for playing synth-based, danceable post-punk with dystopian lyrical themes. Is It Now?, their third album, expresses the same sort of late capitalist paranoia and dark, subtle humor as their previous efforts. However, the three bandmembers have undeniably improved as musicians, and the record is easily their best-sounding and most accomplished effort to date. While their music previously resembled stripped-down, ESG-style dance-punk with droning Suicide synths and occasional New Order-esque basslines, here theyve streamlined their sound a bit, coming closer to 90s alternative dance. Opener "Black Box" has shuffling bongos and buzzing, swooping synths along with coolly detached, echoing vocals. "Mercury" similarly slips some breakbeats into its punchy rhythm, shaded by splashes of organ. When they do engage in faster rhythms, as on the flute-kissed "mq9" or the racing title track, the band sound more groove-heavy and funky instead of stiff and robotic. The easygoing rhythm and Numanoid synths of "Country Song" accompany lyrics expressing the relief of escaping the city and moving out to the country. "Dont Wanna Dance" is a soothing detour into slow, melodica-accented dub. "Smog Summer"s cruising new wave rhythm is deceptively pleasant-sounding, as its lyrics express isolation and the fear of the impending destruction of life as we know it. "PlayBoi" slyly eviscerates a womanizing creep, and "Terminal" is a turbulent call for resistance sung in Arabic. Automatic had the right ideas from the start, and theyve continued to move forward, making Is It Now? their most confident and natural work yet. ~ Paul Simpson

UKゴスの先駆者、バウハウスのメンバーを父に持つローラ・ドンペ(ドラムス/コーラス)を擁するLAの女性3人組。このサード・アルバムではファンキーなリズムに加え、ラテン～アフロビートにもアプローチして、シンセ・オリエンテッドな80s調ニューウェイヴ・サウンドを、さらにユニークなものにしている。クールを装いながら、キュートなコーラスにはガーリーな魅力も。
bounce (C)山口智男