Expatriate – ‘Are You Awake’
Finally, two years after releasing that much loved 2005 Lovers le Strange EP, Expatriate have released their debut long player In The Midst of This. After spending a whole week with this record, I’ve come to like a number of the songs. It’s a stellar recording with plenty of atmospheric synths, effected guitar and dreamy vocals. The themes are rather sorrowfully romantic, and watching them at an intimate album launch party in Sydney, I noted how much the band has changed since that first EP and when I saw them over a year ago supporting The Presets at the Gaelic Club.
Not only is Expatriate looking like a major label band (Note: Ben Kings transformation into an Australian equivalent to The Killers Brandon Flowers) but they are sounding like one too, the album being incredibly polished and professional. They collaborated with producer John Goodmanson of Wu-Tang Clan and Blonde Redhead fame in Seattle and the results are evident, and honestly- quite good. There are some cheesy moments too (The intro to ‘Are You Awake?’) but the “I truly love you I do…” lyric in ‘The Spaces Between’ gets me every time. *Sigh*
April 26, 2007 6:06 pm
lol
yeah they really are looking like an australian killers. Oh well. I liked the first EP alot better, with the likes of killer kat and aviation at night. Not sure now.
May 12, 2007 3:14 pm
Very cool album. I saw them support Simple Minds last year and enjoyed their set a lot, so when I heard their album was out I had no hesitation in picking it up. I definitley like this style of music. It’s subtle yet powerful, and very smooth but not weak. Perfect. My favourtie songs are Spaces Between and Blackbird.
March 14, 2008 2:34 am
I just know your band when you come to stay in Dara Samui
My friend saw your guitar box then she told me that there is a band stay in the hotel (normally our tourist when they come with guitar..it come with a bag ..not box.When your guitar come with box that mean this guitar must important to you..and the ordinary people even though they love to play guitar but they wont protect it like that so we guess!!! )
I dont know who you are until I saw 2 guys in room number 222 my feeling tell me that this guy look like a rocker
so my friend and I looking for the name of your band by google
finally we found your name and your song
I like ‘crazy’
that’s so cool!!