Is this a classic? I think so. Mid 90s electro-organic wonderfulness that others are only now catching up to. Spastic, frenetic, playful, melodic and groovy all at the same time. What a combination. Essential, but seems little known outside of music geek circles? Close to my favorite of the 90s. Their debut was great, and really knocked me out at a time when I really wanted to be knocked out, but this second album is a near perfectly sublime mix of both Margaret Fiedler and Guy Fixsen vocals over a late night groove that's perfect for staying up late with someone special. Really unparalleled what they were able to create. Never overshadowed by some of their more popular peers like Portishead and Massive Attack and DJ This and DJ That, just not as well known, and with a sound uniquely their own. The imagery and sense of atmosphere and depth is just amazing. Sounded as fresh last night and this morning and this evening as when I anxiously bought it in 1997. One of those CDs that stays in the player for a few days whenever I pull it out.

I remember one trip a couple years ago while driving from northern California down to Phoenix, and with about 6 hours down on at least a 12 hour trip, I turned off I-5 down by Los Angeles and headed towards Pasadena. Kind of the beginning of the part that takes you out to the desert. It was overcast and getting dark, and misting a little too. And after tuning off I had slipped Sounds of the Satellites into the player, and it just fit the mood and scenery so well, blossoming into a huge and colorful sound throughout the car and my mind and the night. I was passing some shops and there were all these colorful neon lights along the road, all kind of distorted by the mist, seeming to almost glimmer with the music. Trippy to be sure, but a really nice feel. Almost gave me the feeling that I wanted to drive all night. Almost

Love this album.

I've only heard this one.





I wasn't too impressed with it though. I think I only liked one song so I believe I traded it to a fellow Obner. If you've heard this one, how is different to the one you've described?

Their first two albums were more about the groove, but the second one was all about the groove. Almost cinematic, really. The kind of thing that Margaret had dabbled in with her band Moonshake, but that band was too divided in scope, almost a split personality. With Guy Fixsen she had a real musical mate and they just exploded with creativity. I do like Good Looking Blues a lot, mainly because it does have a couple of their better songs in the outstanding "Widow's Weed" with its jazzy tribute to Miles Davis in that skronky break, and I love "Glory Cloud" too, but much of it is a step down from those first two. If you didn't like it then you probably won't like Satellites either. Maybe it just hit me at the right time. I know it's highly thought of by many, both critic types and more normal types, but don't really know how big their fanbase is. I know there's a bunch of people around here that have it besides me, just really hit me tonight how long lasting this one wil be for me. It's fun to have a few albums like that, the ones that never let you down. Perfect from now on (is another ).

Personally, I thought Sounds of the Satellites and Homogenic were by far the best albums of 1997.

Yeah, I'm really glad you nitroduced me to these guys, quickly became a favourite.

In my top 100.

Yeah it's a fantastic album but this is better and in a similar vein


Insides - Euphoria

Wow, really? Never heard of it. Thanks, I'll have to check it out.

Wow, that is a 4AD blast from the relative past. I think this is the one and only release by them, was it not?

I'd like to hear this too.


Oh, and even the Sounds Of Satellites disc as well. You know, I liked the sound that Laika made but not the songs they put together so much.

They had another album come out in 2000 but it isnt very good