Back to basics for The Automatic
AN indie band who had a Monster hit with one of the catchiest anthems of the 'noughties' have gone back to basics.
The Automatic, who hail from Cowbridge in Wales, seemed to have the world at their feet when they made it to No 4 with their second single, Monster, back in June 2006.
They had two other Top 30 hits with Raoul (No 30) and Recover (No 25), and their debut album Not Accepted Anywhere made No 3.
But they irritated as many people as they enthralled, largely thanks to the high-pitched yelping of their keyboard player Alex Pennie.
He was ditched by the time album number two This Is A Fix came around in 2007, and although it had a more straightforward sound, with fewer synths, it stalled at No 31, with its only single, Steve McQueen, reaching No 16.
Now, however, the band are back, with a new single, Interstate, due out next month on their own label, Armoured Records, and a third album, Tear The Signs Down, to follow in February.
Interstate was recorded in the band's Cardiff studio with producer Richard Jackson, and frontman Rob Hawkins says it is about "freedom, no stress, being away from everything and basically driving along a big long road to God knows where".
Monster, as well as being their best-known song, has turned into a bit of a monkey on their back, but Hawkins insists they're under no pressure to repeat its success.
"We wrote a song, it did really well, I don't really see what there is to be upset about.
"You get labelled 'one-hit wonders', but that's more hits than most people have. And it's not like we've disappeared without a trace."
To show they're still around, the band have embarked on a 12-date UK tour to preview new material, including a date at Independent in Sunderland next Wednesday, November 25.
It is a hometown gig for Pennie's replacement, former Yourcodenameis:milo guitarist Paul Mullen, and tickets, priced 7, are on sale now from 568 9770.
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