15%

I've come across the Swedish band Auto-Auto quite recently. Their debut album and the single were very inspiring, interesting and nice, so as soon as the EP “totem” was out I grabbed it expecting some continuation of great material. However, I was bitterly disappointed as the new material was mediocre, rash, including hopeless compositions that remind poor attempts of the 80ties. From the first track, which, what's worst, isn't the worst on the “EP” - "Transdimencional" – I felt disgust and though the track is only a bit longer than four minutes it becomes boring after two. The next track “Gloria” based on a slightly trans setting is unfortunately the best of the whole EP. I said “unfortunately” because the track itself offers nothing interesting but the inventive melody line. It sounds as if it was recorded in a hurry. I leave out the fact that the vocal line's banality makes the urge to turn off the player irresistible. However, I decided to be tough and listen to auto-auto's output to the end. Soon I realized I made a big mistake. I was devastated by the hopeless melody and boring arrangement of the next song "I am the sun", not to mention the infantile sounds and the false ones, hurting the listener's ears, too. I was looking for rescue in the last track "5:57", however the rescue didn't come. The track closing the EP, though of better quality than the rest, didn't manage to defend the rest. Slapdash vocal, simple and slow pace created the atmosphere which was a proverbial “last nail into the album's coffin” . If there's a CD I do not recommend, it's EP “Totem”. After the brilliant debut the guys seem to rest on their laurels. Collecting praises for their previous album, they wanted to release something new very fast. Well, they should have waited with that. The whole sounds as if it was a waste of the previous production which never saw a daylight. Is this the way the next CD of Auto -Auto will look like? I hope not. I also hope that the “EP” was only a joke and that I can laugh together with the band on the way they took me in. Then I'll wait for the CD which will be at least on the same level as their debut.

1. transdimensional
2. gloria
3. iam the sun
4. a modest proposal
5. 5:57

• Auto-Auto - Sounds of a new generator - 2005-10-09 (Music reviews)
• Auto-Auto - Dog - 2005-10-09 (Music reviews)

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