Satin: Satin

Even the quickest of glances at the moody black and white headshot of Satin (a man, not a band) on the cover to this album leaves absolutely no doubt that this is going to be a release that harks back to the days of sweet, Melodic Rock and AOR. An even quicker hint of the sounds this album contains confirms exactly that. Although to be fair there's also a touch of Hard Rock in there somewhere as well.

So who is Satin? Well, who knows? He began performing on guitar at a young age and appears to have recorded his own Kiss tribute album, as well as contributing to another, and well, that's it. Add to that, the fact that apart from Tom Coyne (Def Leppard, U2) helping to gain a cracking, vintage sound on this debut record (well at 42 minutes, Satin would like this to be on vinyl I'm sure), Satin works alone, and the mystery deepens.

This self titled offering opens in quite stunning style, electric piano and layered voices almost screaming REO Speedwagon at their best through "Fire The Shot", saccharine sweet melodies and glistening hooks on display from the off, the man himself revealing one of those voices that seems made for this style. "Don't Know The Words" adds pomp of Boston proportions, piano and plaintive voice announcing an unmended heart of the broken variety, the voice now adding a Hank Eriks (Houston) lovable whine to layer on the melancholy.

By now you've either decided that you'll love or hate what the earnest looking man on the cover serves up, this early 80s balladeering the sort of thing that has always split opinions. What isn't up for debate is just how damn good at it Satin is. The standard isn't quite maintained across the ten tracks, yet "I've Been Crazy" adds a welcome shot of Rock, "Some Call It Love" soars in the guitar department, while swooping through the keys and the closing "I Don't Need Anybody" convinces that this man has loved, lost and never quite recovered...

Coyne has created a sizzlingly vintage sound, almost insisting as you hear it, that this album is a lost effort from 1984, not 2014. The results possibly too blatant for some, yet undoubtedly it is exactly what the pair set out to achieve. If you haven't already run a mile from this review, then there's lots and lots here to enjoy and while the touching points are as blatantly referenced as its possible to do, those who hanker for REO meets Boston via Houston or Surrender will certainly be satisfied with what they hear on this confident first step.

Track Listing
1. Fire The Shot
2. Don't Know The Words
3. I've Been Crazy
4. Life Will Never Slow Down
5. I Want Us
6. Friends
7. Some People Call It Love
8. Leave It Be
9. Part Of It
10. I Don't Need Anybody

Added: July 31st 2014
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Satin at Verum Music
Hits: 1982
Language: english

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