Motorama
Album: Poverty
Label: Talitres
Tracks: 9
Website: http://wearemotorama.com/

When Motorama released their second album, "Calendar" it was the start of some serious whispers about the band and the start of them reaching outside their native Russia. in the interveening years between then and the now of their third album, "Poverty", that whisper has begun to turn into a real buzz.

They have a sound that has brought them comparisons with the likes of New Order and Depeche Mode, which may make their inclusion here seem a little out of character for Fatea and to be honest you may well be right, but when you hear the classical pop lines of "Red Drop" you might, like me, begin to reconsider that thought.

There is a jangly spirit that, combined with purposeful lyrics gives the album a distinctive, almost songwriter alter-ego that's as refreshing as a mountain stream chilled vodka. "Poverty", despite it's name, is an album that picks you up and tumbles you along with rock 'n' rollesque guitar riffs that form an excellent counterbalance to the synth melodies and echo chamber vocals.

The interesting thing is that Motorama have forged much of their reputation on their live shows, something they manage to feedback into "Poverty" and that's not something you can say of many of the elctropop bands, sure you could talk about the show, but that's very different to the live feel captured here.

I'll concede it may be a bit out in the left field for us, but feel free to check it out for yourself. I know some of you will be as pleasantly surprised as I was.

Neil King