Originally published by L.S. Media. March 13th 2010.

The Automatic this week released their third studio album, titled Tear the Signs Down, and the second one to showcase Paul Mullen after the departure of Alex Pennie before the critically acclaimed album This is a Fix.

The album marks a huge sea change in the way that the band sound. Gone are the pop generation friendly lyrics and instead what the band have produced is an album that will surely generate debate not only amongst their die-hard fans but possibly to a wider audience also.

Initially the album starts with the song Insides, strangely the bass line and drum section are reminiscent of The Chemical Brothers Hey Boy, Hey Girl, not that’s a bad thing, just not what the fans might expect. The album then highlights the first single from the latest offering in Interstate, though unlike some of the previous singles that the band have produced, i.e. Monster and the crunching Steve McQueen, there seems to be a world view story at play. Certainly one of the best uses of aural pieces of advice in Tear the Signs Down, put up your own”!

The album trundles through at a nice steady pace, which some fans may find a bit frustrating but others may be feel slightly refreshed by this new way of getting the bands message across. It certainly should be taken as such, for there is a lot to be proud of on this musical voyage and the band certainly seemed to have taken this particular album to their hearts.

An album that requires an “adult” approach to musical change in direction, it demands much of the listeners and gives plenty in return.

Ian D. Hall