If I had my turntable with me in quarantine, and this LP on vinyl for that matter, then I would have it spinning all day. Softly in the background it would be playing out punky garage rock, adorned with a vintage filter. I’d also be looking out onto the Mojave Desert too, just for good measure. But, as it happens, I’m looking over a Didsbury tram stop listening to Satis Factory through my tinny laptop speakers. Needs must, hey!
Satis Factory (2019) is Mattiel’s second LP, released via Heavenly Records. Throughout the album Mattiel Brown has effectively covered all bases of rock ‘n’ roll and then some – no rock ‘n’ roll stone has been left unturned, if you will. Rock, garage rock, country rock, blues rock, it’s all here. It is this, I would imagine, that has kept me listening to the album. I listen to a lot of rock ‘n’ roll, so upon hearing ‘Keep The Change’ for the first time (a radio play that lead me to the album) I was intrigued and pleasantly surprised to hear what the rest held in store.
With bluesy beats and gritty guitar throughout, there’s not a lot to dislike. Flutters of hand claps and backing vocals reminiscent of The Velvet Underground are prominent throughout, always a winner. Perhaps my only uncertainty lies is that it is so similar to what I have listened to before – uncertainty coupled with comfort. It is so easily identifiable that I find no difficultly or abrasion listening to it, making it an easy choice for my Lockdown Listening. But if I really think hard enough, and I don’t want to use the word ‘copy’, it is definitely a pastiche on the works of The Velvet Underground and Patti Smith. If you like these, you’ll like this. If you love these, maybe you’ll find it a bit irking.
Give it a listen and let me know what you think!
