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boom boom satellites - exposed
Chances are the beats of Tokyo’s Boom Boom Satellites have never made way into your speakers despite successful tours with household names like Moby and Fatboy Slim, as well as being placed on soundtracks next to M.I.A and Basement Jaxx. The powerhouse duo of Michiyuki Kawashima and Masayuki Nakano have created a name for themselves that encompass the infectious guilty pleasure of big beat techno with just enough heavy guitar riffs to please any hard rock fanatic. While the songs feature a heavy flavor of electronica-themed undertones, the final products are a sleek collision of genres that beg themselves to be played on constant repeat.
The latest full-length album from Boom Boom Satellites is the 2007 release “Exposed”. Like previous albums, it boasts a successful formula that revels in polished production and synthesized bass lines. The stylistic elements of each and every instrument come together in a cohesive unit of hit singles that makes each and every song consistently enjoyable, albeit without a serious element of risk to differentiate them.
The strongest tracks on the album are the ones wherein the vocals of Kawashima become an integral part of the beat and instrumentation, not just another layer. “Morning After” and “Fiends” are the best examples of where the singing is coated with the same synthesizing treatment used for the guitars and rhythm. The distinction between synth and vocals are blurry, but still sound crisp. Although the lyrics themselves are a bit difficult to understand due to the language barrier, it only further removes the vocals from being the most important part of the music.
“Upside Down” and “What Goes Around Comes Around” form the opening set of tracks. Both boast powerful bass and drum beats that trade places with the guitars and synths to become the focal parts of the song.
“Shut Up and Explode” finds a catchy chorus that acts more of a beat than actual vocals, allowing the guitar riffs to take centre stage.
“Bring It On Down” and “Intergalactic” are indisputably the highlights of the album. The former sees a tight-knit chemistry of separate layers while the latter has the combination of soaring vocals and a hook that will no doubt be in your head long after the album has finished.
“Six Forty Five” hits a good nerve with more hardcore guitar-centric riffs and is the most stylistically unique of the whole album.
“Entering Orbit” is a two-minute interlude that showcases expensive synths but could have really be done without. It’s counterpart “Cluster,” is a frantic guitar-mashing melody that would have been better as a complete song instead of a short teaser.
“Easy Action” is the fourth single and has more of a mainstream, pop-rock feel to the beat, making it memorable but nothing special.
As a closing track “Get Back In My House” successfully proves as a showcase to what the album is all about; technical percussion, accompanying vocals and a techno-rock beat that defies genres.
With a smooth mixing of styles and never picking one over the other, Boom Boom Satellites are not a band to be missed. “Exposed” only pushes them forward with more power than ever and leaves a favorable lasting impression. As the band continues to progress, a dynamic tour-de-force is just waiting to be let lose on the world.
-Sarah Luca
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