The Automatic
The Automatic (also known as The Automatic Automatic in the U.S.)[2] were a Welsh rock band. The band's last-known lineup was composed of Robin Hawkins on vocals, bass and synthesisers, James Frost on guitar, synthesisers, backing vocals and occasional bass, Iwan Griffiths on drums and Paul Mullen on vocals, guitar and synthesiser. Mullen joined after the departure of Alex Pennie, who provided synthesiser, percussion and vocals.[3]
Not to be confused with Automatics.
The Automatic
Cowbridge, Wales
1998–2010
Signing to a deal between B-Unique Records and Polydor Records in 2005,[4] the band released their platinum selling debut Not Accepted Anywhere in 2006, which spawned three UK top 40 singles – "Raoul", "Recover" and "Monster". The band released their second album This Is A Fix accompanied by only one single, "Steve McQueen" in 2008, which due to a dispute between the band's labels – B-Unique and Polydor – was plagued with distributional and promotional problems.[5] The dispute led to the band withdrawing from their 5-album deal with the labels and instead formed their own label, Armoured Records, distributed through EMI.[6]
After independently releasing their third album Tear the Signs Down in 2010 and three singles – "Interstate", "Run & Hide" and "Cannot Be Saved",[7][8] the band began what was meant to be a temporary break while members concentrated on other projects. James Frost began playing guitar in Effort, while Paul Mullen provided vocals and guitar in Young Legionnaire.[9]
History[edit]
Band beginnings (1998–2004)[edit]
The members first met at primary school, in the early 1990s, and formed a band at the age of 13. Alex Pennie was asked to join five years later.[10][11] Originally known as White Rabbit, up until February 2005 when[12] they renamed themselves The Automatic because they believe that music is the antidote to "the automatic life".[13] After recording their two-track demo featuring rough versions of "Monster" and "Rats" in 2005[14] they signed a five-album record deal[4] with B-Unique Records in their gap year.[15]
Musical style[edit]
During the band's debut release period of Not Accepted Anywhere they were often categorised as electro-disco-punk rock,;[92] at this point they were using more synthesiser keyboards, and had been compared to acts such as Bloc Party, Kaiser Chiefs, and 'thrown in' with the indie rock scene of 2006, the band have even stated that the album was altered in the mixing process "When we were recording the first album there were some really heavy guitars going down but only the clean ones were used" a decision of the record label and producers involved with the album, some of these guitars parts were restored in the 2007 US release of Not Accepted Anywhere when it was re-released and re-mastered, the band at one point were even labelled as Glam rock, which former keyboardist Alex Pennie blamed NME for.[93] The band cite their influences such as Jarcrew, Muse, Blur and The Blood Brothers,[94] and a joint love for bands such as Radiohead and Ash,[95] The band's second album was compared to the sound of Ash's early work by many critics, as well as this the second album is generally listed as having a 'bigger sound' with heavier guitars, less synths, drums and more vocals.
The debut album, Not Accepted Anywhere, lyrically refers to the band's experiences growing up in Cowbridge, while the second album, This Is A Fix, lyrically takes inspiration from politics and news items, except for "Steve McQueen" which lyrically is similar to the tracks on Not Accepted Anywhere and was intended originally as a bridge between the two first albums, as a stand-alone single being originally recorded at the end of 2006, for an early 2007 release. "Monster", "Recover", "In The Mountains" and "Responsible Citizen" lyrically refer to substance abuse and alcohol, the media in "Magazines", the record industry in "Accessories" and "You Shout You Shout You Shout You Shout", the climate in "High Tide on Caroline Street", people the band dislike in "Team Drama and "Seriously... I Hate You Guys", growing up and day-to-day lives in "That's What She Said", "In This World", "Raoul", and "Light Entertainment".[17][96][97][98]
The band instrumentally use various synthesisers to produce many of their sounds, during the recording and touring with the album Not Accepted Anywhere the band's former member Alex Pennie used an Alesis Micron and an Alesis Andromeda during live performances, and in addition to this in studio he used a Roland Juno-106. More recently since Pennie's departure new addition Paul Mullen uses a microKORG whilst James Frost continues to use an Alesis Micron, although fewer of the songs on This Is A Fix use a synthesiser as a predominant instrument. The band uses Sennheiser microphones, 'e 945s' for vocals, 'e 906s' for the guitar cabinets and snare drum, the 'e 604s' for toms, and an 'e 901' on the kick drum.[99]
The band have collaborated on a number of occasions for live shows, notably for Reading and Leeds festivals in 2006 during the performances of "Gold Digger" where the band performed with Goldie Lookin Chain,[100] similarly in 2007 at T in the Park the band performed the track with singer-guitarist Newton Faulkner,[101] during the live performance of "Gold Digger", former guitar technician for The Automatic Jamie Allen would perform bass guitar, as Rob played flute.[102] In 2008 with album and track "This Is A Fix" an additional bass player was required for its performance as Rob would be providing synthesisers in the track, during club tour Tom Stephens of Viva Machine provided bass, whilst in later tours Peter Hill stood in as bassist on the track. Notable on many of the band's tours have featured James "Jizz" Lawrenson as the band's sound engineer,[99]'Spicy' Geoff Cattani as Keyboard Tech & Drum tech & sometimes Driver from February 2006 – November 2006, Stan Saunders as band's monitor engineer and Mike Doyle as tour manager, a position Peter Hill also took in 2008/09 touring, Mike was also featured during a live cover of Talking Heads single "Life During Wartime" on the 2007 NME Tour.[103]
The band have long had a studio relationship with producer Richard Jackson, who is responsible for working with the band on albums; Not Accepted Anywhere, This Is A Fix & Tear the Signs Down and subsequent b-sides and demos[104] as well as this the band have been managed by Martin Bowen with Probation Management since 2005.[105] As well as working in studio with Richard, the sophomore release was worked on initially with Don Gilmore, followed by Butch Walker & Richard Jackson and on one track Stephen Harris, who also worked with the band on their debut, along with Ian Broudie.[106] To date, musically the only other musicians to be featured besides the band themselves were Chris T-T and Frank Turner, the two musicians along with producer Butch Walker were featured providing gang vocals and extra percussion on This Is A Fix track "Steve McQueen".