Catalogue no. JMMCD011
Release date: 07/06/2010
Format: Digital

Track Listing:

01. Celluloid
02. Black Rock
03. Gold Dust
04. Hugo
05. Shane
06. Lime
07. Are You The Laser Man?
08. Abandon
09. Sefton
10. Marriott

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Reviews:

Blues Bunny

What you got there in your hand? It’s the latest album by Autons and it’s called “Celluloid” and it is a collection of songs inspired by the classic era of movies. That’s what it says here on the press release, anyway.

I’m just not sure that this has anything to do with movies other than squeezing in a few silver screen references here and there. Movies are, by their very nature, populist entertainment and this album is a darker thing entirely leaving the impression that the true concept behind it was a reflection on alienation and isolation.

Barring the rather splendid maxed out glam rock – but check out the lyrics before dancing to it – of the title track, the songs fit into the stylistic groove of eighties electro rock with a sprinkling of brooding synth pop on top with David Auton’s vocals leaving a feeling of unease behind them. Even the robotic pleasures of “Shane” can’t quite convince me to smile. Nonetheless, as the closing track “Marriot” waves us goodbye, you can’t help but think that a sequel will be on the cards.

subba-cultcha.com

Left field electronica with it’s own unique flavour

Autons frontman / mainstay David Auton is obviously a bit of a cinema head, because he’s only gorn an given his new album, the cunningly-entitled “Celluloid” (see what he did there?) a cinematic theme. Albeit one focussed on the ‘40’s and ‘50’s flicks he saw as a kid.

Quite how this interest resulted in his composing and producing a series of bombastic, stripped down electro rock songs to them is a story undoubtedly not worth examining in this review, but we’ll take the intervening events as read, given the paucity of biographical information I could be arsed to glean. Switching from banging electro-pop strangely reminiscent of the Happy Mondays to something resembling lost bits of the Twin Peaks soundtrack and back before the album’s halfway point demonstrates their versatility, however.

It probably won’t make a huge impact on the charts, but Autons will undoubtedly find a loyal following very receptive to them if they continue making music of this standard. Something tells me they’ll be happy with that outcome…

Altsounds.com

As well as being the surname of this family band (David, Ray & Tony), Autons are presumably aware of the allusion their name presents to the artificial life force from Doctor Who. Whilst the latter TV was meant to be foreboding, Autons are less so, the only thing the electro-pop outfit form Portsmouth are in danger of is bringing back male platform heels and attracting UFOs with their flashing neon scepters.

Upon listening to their album, Celluloid, Autons admirably aim to construct a highly individual sonic space for each track. The extensive use of curious synthesized timbres are the overwhelming phonic sediment one is left with, the driving propulsion of ‘Shane’ and ‘Sefton’ being particular highlights, respectively. I applaud the ambition here. However, quite a few of the songs do seem to flatten out over time, never quite fulfilling the potential pregnant in the openings.

The lack of punch or successful hook is perhaps a result of a band for whom setting an intriguing sonic environment is priority, content and development within a framework being somewhat neglected. Autons favour juxtaposition of sounds and song sections over any more teleological development, which is fine on occasion, but after a while it can be quite alienating for the listener. The disruptive jarring of moving from one part to another, seemingly rendering the songs as a collection of spliced miniatures having potential for real stature denied by Autons facile toying. Don’t get me wrong, I like juxtaposition every now and then, but after a while it isn’t juxtaposition, it’s just a failure to engage with the things already made – an easy way out.

This rather aggravating point aside, there are some nice moments on Celluloid. In addition to the aforementioned ‘Shane’ and ‘Sefton,’ the title track is a notably brash electro-rock affair, never letting go its filthy assault; one can almost feel the searing, brightly lit stage burning electro-hipster’s retinas; ‘Gold Dust’ is also worth a mention as a bouncing Scissor Sisters-esque four-to-the-floor number.

Autons certainly have great potential to write some very inventive and catchy stuff, but Celluloid feels more like a sample-disc and not something more cohesive which is a pity.

Call Upon The Author

“Celluloid”, as you can probably presume from the title, is a loose concept album about the universe of motion pictures and cinematography. To which the Autons deserve a fuck tonne of kudos for exploring such an original and underused concept and doing so brilliantly at it. “Celluloid” is an original, varied and refreshing album escaping from the gut of the British Indielectro scene.

David Auton chose to centre in on predominantly British and American films of the 1940s/50s eras as they created a lasting impression on him during his childhood. Whether or not you are a lover of experimental indie/electro music, Celluloid will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on you.

The tracks on the album display a succulent slice of variety both in style and in obvious influences. From the quintessential British indie sound of the albums opening track, with its upbeat little riff and clapping, to the morbid, heavy 80’s inspired electro of Abandon, a song that would not look conspicuous on a Throbbing Gristle or Ultravox album with haunting lyrics such as , “ I walked by a gravestone I wish my name was on it.”

Marriott also has a rather dark and macabre lyrical content. The track talks about what appears to be a break up and wanting to watch the other person burn, juxtaposed to a delicate xylophone melody that could easily be the theme to a children’s tv show. Now go find another album with a track that fits that description, I dare you.

The album possesses some relaxed almost chill out electro on it too. Black Rock is a calming piece of melodic indie and gentle electro with soft vocals you can easily unwind to.

On the whole “Celluloid” is a refreshing album that is definitely worth a listen. An acquired taste? Yes, but like Iced Tea in my opinion. Worth trying and many will love it. The concept of the album is original, the tracks are varied, have been structured perfectly and each one evokes a different mood from the listener. Having received glowing reviews from top music publications such as “Amplifier” and “Rocksound,” Autons are without doubt a band worth exploring.