Fresh off the heels of its third album, Is It Now?, Automatic leans into the political conversation without being too moralistic. The trio’s international tour with LA post-punk band Sextile, which stops at Swan Dive on October 9, reacts to the state of the world but isn’t too heavy handed in telling you how to deal with it.
“We wanted to tap into what’s happening right now in the country. There’s a lot of anxiety among the collective,” says synth player and vocalist Izzy Glaudini.
“When you’re writing political music, there’s the Bob Dylans and the Leonard Cohens, and then there’s Devo. There’s many different ways to approach it,” she continues. “I think we want to do it in a non-judgmental [way]. More just showing what is going on, not necessarily preaching.”
Is It Now? uses the same analog tape-recording methods that Glaudini, drummer Lola Dompé and bassist Halle Saxon have become known for in their previous works. Singles like “Mercury,” “Lazy” and “Black Box” share a warm, minimalist sound that’s both absorbing and danceable. Meanwhile, the lyrics about drones (“MQ9”), the political influence of oil (“The Prize”) and America’s involvement in endless wars (“Terminal”) serve sharp commentary with a groove.
The past and future may have us feeling paralyzed. But Automatic’s new album draws us into the present with music that compels us to move forward.
AUTOMATIC With Sextile, the Opera. October 9, 8 p.m., $25-$30. Swan Dive, swandivelv.com.
Click HERE to subscribe for free to the Weekly Fix, the digital edition of Las Vegas Weekly! Stay up to date with the latest on Las Vegas concerts, shows, restaurants, bars and more, sent directly to your inbox!
