Asteroids Broke My Stereo

The brilliantly named Asteroids Broke My Stereo were formed in early 2008 in England by Tom Smith and Ross Gilman who both had a love for indie rock and electronic beats. After having one of their songs, “Autumn Leaves” played on a local radio station the band made the decision to add drummer Stu Knight and bassist Danny Bristow. As we’ve discussed lately, the terrain sown by the music industry has changed yet again. Bands like The Boxer Rebellion top the charts as an unsigned band. ABMS seek to burn their own trail into your consciousness. They’ve released their first ep as a free download on their website, gambling that hearing is believing. The strategy works perfectly as they take the Radiohead “pay what you want” philosophy and produce music that makes you beg to give them your money.

The nature of music criticism suggests that you must compare bands to others as a reference point. Bands bristle at the concept generally, but rarely escape the trap. The only method of escape is to find that trail that hasn’t been well traveled. We listened to the ABMS ep and were perfectly satisfied with the indie rock references of the opening of Autumn Leaves. It was only when we “got” the electronic beats and layers of instrumentation, that our jaws dropped. I’m not a huge fan of electronica and hesitate to even mention it’s references in their music. Suffice to say that no band has taken rock guitars down an electronic path with such subtle success since….a certain band that spent years trying to escape the shadow of Creep. Stellar. - The Dumbing Of America

Hailing from the promised land of Middle England that is Tunbridge Wells you could expect a more prudent moniker than Asteroids Broke My Stereo. Yet safe is expected and opener ‘Only Time Will Tell’ does not disappoint with soft vocals and serene, lilting guitar. Drums try to intervene and only when left as an instrumental towards the track’s heady climax does The September EP spring to life.

‘The Vice’ seems far more loose, introducing a flamboyance through a stunning midway refrain. While previously lacking, shimmering guitar here sounds married with the swooning vocals; behaving and keeping in time to compliment the glorious melodies.

Their closing track, ‘Torch & Ashes’ showcases the band’s electro roots with looped beats suffused with gentle xylophone developing into a somewhat rousing finale to the EP. Somewhat when you realise that the track could be so much more with just a touch more exuberant production but then safety first was always going to prevail. - Omar Soliman