SHOW : Black Marble + Automatic

I was curious to see Black Marble live. Being a huge melody slut, I simply can’t resist the post-punk outfit. Black Marble has hidden behind a big bucket of lo-fi in the past, but their new album Bigger Than Life is neatly produced, yet full of character…

All this to say, I didn’t know if they would go the lo-fi route live, or be a straight-up rock band on stage. And they actually fell somewhere in between Friday, when they played at The Garrison for the first night of Odonis Odonis’ amazing new festival Eisbaer. Accompanied by a drum machine sequence, as well as a guitarist, Chris Stewart played bass and sang. The mix of electronic and electric was a nice contrast that put fan favorites in a new light.

Automatic was opening for the band I’ve been doing a pretty good job of not calling BM so far. I mean this in the least creepy way possible, but I totally fell in love with the trio.

I would compare Automatic to Nirvana, not so much for their sound, but for their economy of means. Every burst of hi-hat, every bass glissando, every synth part repetition creates this amazing sonic tapestry that makes you feel 14 years old again (but like, the good parts of being 14, and not the acne and the failing gym class for the second year in a row).

Automatic makes you feel a mix of angst and passion, and I say this as someone who is usually 100% dead inside, so it’s really saying something.

As a synth nerd, I also like that Izzy Glaudini’s Prophet is front and center. Most bands of their ilk relegate the synth to the status of second fiddle, and feel the need to slap a guitar on everything…

But not Automatic, my friend. Not Automatic.