// ALBUM REVIEWS


Album: The Death Via Satellite Ep
Source: The Prp
By: Jason Doe

theSTART - Death Via Satellite
Label woes and personal setbacks have plagued theSTART since their oft-delayed debut "Shakedown!" eventually found its way to the public, and as such the group have been forced to struggle against almost insurmountable odds to simply continue making music. After removing themselves from the music industry machine, the group sought to reestablish their goals by once more taking to the road, spending the majority of 2002 touring while independently releasing "The 1234" EP, a short preview of what was to come. This was followed by a lengthier EP, one that courtesy of Nitro Records has become the band's reintroduction in the form of "Death Via Satellite". Serving as a precursor to a new full-length being working on, this is a suitable label debut that was only available in limited release prior to now and captures the band doing what they do best, weaving 80's synth-pop with artsy post-punk.

For those that have remained seated on theSTART's bullet train, this is a complimentary snack to whet appetites all too hungry for a new full-length, as Nitro Records have included several enhanced bonuses to compensate for the fact that this EP is merely a re-release of their 2002 opus via Small Stone Records. There are few changes from the aforementioned release, sans the juggling of "The 1234" and "Hi Flyer", but this placement creates a more fluid progression from one track to the next, allowing the album to slow down with an understated grace that was less noticeable with the high-octane blast of "The 1234" jammed between the album's more atmospheric cuts.

Aimee Echo continues to be the group's focal point, as her richly enigmatic vocals propel each song onward with a seductively squeaky tone, and her ability with the pen proves to be as adept as her presence behind the mic. Whether adhering to the nuances of love and heartbreak or tackling more topical concerns, she uses her words elegantly and emphasizes the raw emotion that drives her. The band follow suit, supplying a smorgasbord of tones and textures to accommodate Echo's lyrical concepts. "Los Angelos" is the album's strongest cut, conveying a darkly compelling mindset from which the band's heavy, surging crush actually overpowers Echo, while she in turn uses her distinctive vocals to seduce and entice the listener with willowy desire. From the stripped down title track and Jamie Miller's boisterous guitar assault to the layered keyboard dreamscape that is the framework for the breezy despair of "Hi Flyer"; theSTART are keenly aware of how to set the mood and rarely falter. "Trinity" is the lone exception, as the group's indulgence leads to drawn out experimentation that enhances the track's goth undertones, yet wears thin long before its conclusion.

Primarily "Death Via Satellite" serves as a wake-up call to those unaware that the band were still plugging away on the indie scene, and the quality of songs included here should rekindle the fiery interest that made the group so ravenously popular with the dance-punk hipster scene to begin with. theSTART continue to push forward with their uniquely nostalgic vision of 80's new wave & post-punk, and with the promise of a new album on the horizon, this EP seemingly proves that this lavishly indulgent L.A. quartet are far from being finished yet.

Rating: 3.5/5

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