13 Satellites

13 Satellites

Right from the opening instrumental intro, it’s apparent that Brandon Schott is one of those Angeleno troubadours who was raised on Beach Boys albums like Pet Sounds and Surf’s Up. “Annie” opens Schott’s 13 Satellites with the timeless whimsy of classic carnival music. He trims the tune with baroque pop accents like glockenspiel, horns, pump organ, woodwinds, marching drums, and some of the most lilting four-part vocal harmonies since the Wilson brothers rolled two-inch tape. Yet by the following “Early Morning Night,” Schott takes lead vocals to infuse the song with his own breathy tones. More Ben Folds than Brian Wilson, “Full Circle Round” is anchored to a prominent piano that’s orbited by junkyard percussion, acoustic guitar, sleigh bells, and more of those heavenly harmonies. Although vintage-sounding Mellotron, kazoo, tuba, and vibraslap give “Satellite” a Sgt. Pepper's vibe, Schott’s clever interplay between lyrics and melody make for something that perfectly balances retrospection with innovation.

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