After eight years of meticulous studio tinkering, Los Angeles’ My Satellite’s sophomore album, Person, explodes out of the gate like a tripped-out muscle car screaming through the desert at midnight – all neon and raw power. A concept record tracing the life cycle of a relationship, Person takes you on a wild ride through a relationship’s ups and downs, mixing mind-bending psychedelia with that indie-rock attitude we all love. It proves that taking your sweet time can pay off big time.
Formed in 2009 as Bryan Stage’s solo project, My Satellite has since grown into this crazy creative beast band. While Stage remains the nucleus, the now-a-duo band’s got this insane chemistry going on. The guitars layer down these trippy textures that shimmer like a mirage, and bassist Andy Marshall holds it down with grooves so deep even Thundercat would be like “damn.” The rhythm is not only keeping time but building highways for these songs to race down, mixing primal rock with some seriously mischievous rhythms. Following 2014’s Lift, My Satellite didn’t just want to one-up themselves—they were gunning for a total makeover. They threw Stevie Wonder‘s groove addiction, Radiohead’s existential vibes, and Tame Impala‘s psychedelic bliss into a blender, and out popped Person. It’s like Dr. Frankenstein went on a music binge and stitched together the coolest bits.
Opener “Minotaur” sets the bar high: upright bass thumping away like it’s trying to escape your chest, while Stage’s falsetto floats above it all Then the synths kick in, and suddenly you’re spiralling down a rabbit hole. “Denial” is where things get wild. Imagine Daft Punk crashing a garage rock party—that’s the vibe. The bass doesn’t just hold down the fort; it’s leading the charge into a sweaty, strobe-lit frenzy. And just when you think you’ve got them pegged, “Deep Into” slides in with some R&B flavour. These indie darlings can dip their toes in the pop pool without washing off their grit.
Concept albums can be eye-roll central, but Person dodges that bullet. It’s like someone spilled their guts about a relationship in the messiest, most honest way possible, with the raw honesty of a drunk text at 2 a.m. Tracks like “Strange Business” weaponize catchiness—its hook is an earworm with existential crisis. The album’s 8th song, “Tangles & Virtues,” strips things down to Bon Iver-esque minimalism—ambient pads, whispered harmonies—before “See Me Off” reignites the fire with thunderous fills and searing guitar work. Closer “Morning” doesn’t tie things up neatly; it leaves you in the wreckage, breathless but wiser.
If Person has a secret weapon, it’s the production. Every little detail – from the snappy snares to the squelchy synths and those echo-drenched vocals – feels like it’s there for a reason. Take “Sing Your Sorrows” – it’s like they threw dreamy guitars on top of hip-hop beats and somehow made it work. This album doesn’t just hit your ears, it rattles your whole body. This is music that commands your attention—and rewards it. Whether it’s the rhythm-section sorcery on “Farewell to Fantasy” or the guitar spiralling into the stratosphere on “You,” My Satellite isn’t trying to fit in trends. They’re too busy inventing their own.
Eight years might as well be a century in the music world. But Person? It’s no ordinary album. It’s for the risk-takers, the ones who won’t settle for average, and it proves that rock isn’t dead – it’s just been hiding out in some L.A. studio, waiting to blow your mind. Turn this bad boy up, give it a double spin, and thank whatever music gods you believe in (and My Satellite, of course) that bands like this are still out there doing their thing.