Satellite Ravens

If you thought Satellite Ravens‘ music was intoxicating, wait until you see the trippy video for ‘AfterThoughts’. The single, lifted from debut record ‘The Equinox‘, has been paired with kaleidoscopic visuals of humans, landscapes, animals and mostly, bananas.


True-to-form, the video is as weird, wonderful and psychedelic as Satellite Ravens’ music. The track is a collage of late noughties indie-psych, book ended by psychedelic cacophonies. Think Empire of the Sun, MGMT, and Passion Pit if they were less mainstream and more experimental.

Satellite Ravens recently told Indie Crush about LA life, the voyage into adulthood, and bass.

Follow Satellite Ravens: - Simply Videos

Space rock then. There can’t be many bands that have, on the surface, defined a time, a place and a level of inebriation than Hawkwind, yet it is largely their influence which has led to the emergence of Satellite Ravens. The tie-dyed heartbeat which thrums through their music is all oil on lightbulbs and whooshing guitar effects, a technique which has never entirely disappeared for reasons both musical and otherwise (none of which we condone, obv). Every decade has had their own take on the style, from Spacemen 3 in the 90s to Monster Magnet to Flaming Lips to, more recently, Comets on Fire. Satellite Ravens have an extra twist in that lead Raven (indeed, most of the time, only Raven) is primarily a bassist, meaning that the psychedlic stew is bolstered by a very pleasing funk flavour.

For drinking purposes, though mescal infusions would seem apt on the surface, we can’t miss the opportunity to mention Space Rock Pale Ale which promises nuggets of alien technology. - Booze and Reviews

Hatched in Arizona and with wings affixed in California, Satellite Ravens is as close to a one-man band as you can get without the spectacle of someone with cymbals strapped to their knees and an array of whistles around their neck. The creator is multi-instrumentalist, Carson Rohde; his vehicle, the many-headed psychedelic funk gull, Satellite Ravens; the album, a mind-expanding zoo of colourful characters from this world and beyond, from yesterday and tomorrow. The hippy vibes are back for a new generation and lift-off is available any time you’re ready.
Watch the video to Changes here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj8YEUKgcKA
With Rohdes’ behemoth-like bass guitar skills very much to the fore, “The Equinox” has the shuffling, staggering drums of the 90’s Madchester scene, but with the day-glo smarts of US bands like MGMT and early Flaming Lips. From the swooning joy of Suffocated, with its Ween-esque mischievousness to the pseudo-mystical Chili Peppers dream-funk of Encircled, each track builds into ever-expanding universe, twisting back on itself and latching onto new rhythms, writhing gleefully as it morphs into an entirely new animal. If Space Rock to you is Hawkwind or Spacemen 3, think again – this is the real sound of the cosmos: playful; intriguing but also joyful.
Rather like the deliberately distressed Yes-like album cover, Satellite Ravens have their tongue somewhat in their cheek, but this belies their huge musical talent and often intriguing lyrical content. With elements of jazz, classical, funk, 80s rock and 90s underground psych, this is an album which grows in magnificence with each subsequent listen. Prepare to follow Satellite Ravens in orbit. - Vents Magazine

‘If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself’ is the exact mentality multi-instrumentalist and creator of Satellite Ravens, Carson Rohde, has applied to debut album, The Equinox. Birthed in Arizona but finding their wings in California, Satellite Ravens are a new twist on the one-man band by combining the sound of the past and present to create something never heard before. The Equinox is a melding of genres from jazz to funk, from 80s rock to 90s underground psych – an album to be explored through each layer of magnificence.

Apart from the unusual combination of sounds that causes the album to stand out from what’s currently in the charts, The Equinox puts Carson’s booming bass guitar skills at the forefront creating a chill/lost in space like vibe. Layered in weird and wonderful modified synths and sounds, The Equinox is a new world of colourful characters and vast landscapes of uncharted territory with each track claiming more and more of this territory as its own. Lead track, ‘Changes,’ is a psychedelic funk fusion introducing you to the unique sound of Satellite Ravens that spends five minutes taking you on a journey you might find yourself not wanting to come back from. The mood alterations throughout ‘Changes’ are notable but subtle, giving you classic hippy vibes mixed with intoxicating electric guitar solos before leaving you stranded with an abrupt end that has you desperately searching for more.

Watch the music video for ‘Changes’ here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj8YEUKgcKA

But fear not for The Equinox will not leave you lost for long before delivering you to the robotic rock ‘Suffocated,’ a song that doesn’t begin how you think it will end and just keeps you guessing for what is to come next from the album. ‘Suffocated’ contains drawn out vocals and nothing short of awesome guitar playing that softens out towards the fade out end to put you in the mood for the chilled funk of ‘AfterThoughts.’ The shortest of the tracks on The Equinox, ‘Encircled’ is a pseudo-mystical song that walks you through a dream in the same way Fleetwood Mac would if they teamed up with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Whilst every track on The Equinox has a hypnotising rhythm that is guaranteed to have you hooked, ‘Equinox Ashes’ is a space rock track that fades in and out of beauty whilst continuously managing to be captivating.

The Equinox is by no means an album that will appeal to everyone, but it has a charm and allure built into each track that will appeal to those open to musical experimentation and creation. The array of different styles and intriguing lyrics are playful but also speak of some serious musical talent akin to bands like the Flaming Lips. The Equinox is in orbit now and I encourage you to give it a listen before things completely blow up.

Links:

Website: https://satelliteravens.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/satellite.ravens/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/satelliteravens
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJAay056LCLnCks9ua9Duw?view_as=subscriber
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/satellite_ravens
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4DWM8jTdcf2wyyWt3a7SzV
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/satellite.ravens/



Review by Skye W. Winwood - Music News 2Day

Hatched in Arizona and with wings affixed in California, Satellite Ravens is as close to a one-man band as you can get without the spectacle of someone with cymbals strapped to their knees and an array of whistles around their neck. The creator is multi-instrumentalist, Carson Rohde; his vehicle, the many-headed psychedelic funk gull, Satellite Ravens; the album, a mind-expanding zoo of colourful characters from this world and beyond, from yesterday and tomorrow. The hippy vibes are back for a new generation and lift-off is available any time you’re ready.



With Rohdes’ behemoth-like bass guitar skills very much to the fore, “The Equinox” has the shuffling, staggering drums of the 90’s Madchester scene, but with the day-glo smarts of US bands like MGMT and early Flaming Lips. From the swooning joy of Suffocated, with its Ween-esque mischievousness to the pseudo-mystical Chili Peppers dream-funk of Encircled, each track builds into ever-expanding universe, twisting back on itself and latching onto new rhythms, writhing gleefully as it morphs into an entirely new animal. If Space Rock to you is Hawkwind or Spacemen 3, think again – this is the real sound of the cosmos: playful; intriguing but also joyful.



Rather like the deliberately distressed Yes-like album cover, Satellite Ravens have their tongue somewhat in their cheek, but this belies their huge musical talent and often intriguing lyrical content. With elements of jazz, classical, funk, 80s rock and 90s underground psych, this is an album which grows in magnificence with each subsequent listen. Prepare to follow Satellite Ravens in orbit. - Sonic News Blog

Hatched in Arizona and with wings affixed in California, Satellite Ravens is as close to a one-man band as you can get without the spectacle of someone with cymbals strapped to their knees and an array of whistles around their neck. The creator is multi-instrumentalist, Carson Rohde; his vehicle, the many-headed psychedelic funk gull, Satellite Ravens; the album, a mind-expanding zoo of colourful characters from this world and beyond, from yesterday and tomorrow. The hippy vibes are back for a new generation and lift-off is available any time you’re ready.

With Rohdes’ behemoth-like bass guitar skills very much to the fore, “The Equinox” has the shuffling, staggering drums of the 90’s Madchester scene, but with the day-glo smarts of US bands like MGMT and early Flaming Lips. From the swooning joy of Suffocated, with its Ween-esque mischievousness to the pseudo-mystical Chili Peppers dream-funk of Encircled, each track builds into ever-expanding universe, twisting back on itself and latching onto new rhythms, writhing gleefully as it morphs into an entirely new animal. If Space Rock to you is Hawkwind orSpacemen 3, think again – this is the real sound of the cosmos: playful; intriguing but also joyful.

Rather like the deliberately distressed Yes-like album cover, Satellite Ravens have their tongue somewhat in their cheek, but this belies their huge musical talent and often intriguing lyrical content. With elements of jazz, classical, funk, 80s rock and 90s underground psych, this is an album which grows in magnificence with each subsequent listen. Prepare to follow Satellite Ravens in orbit. - The Lowdown Under

Psychedelic Rock artist 'Satellite Ravens' has just premiered a totally bananas new video for their excellent new single 'After Thoughts'. - Rock Music Crown

Hatched in Arizona and with wings affixed in California, Satellite Ravens is as close to a one-man band as you can get without the spectacle of someone with cymbals strapped to their knees and an array of whistles around their neck. The creator is multi-instrumentalist, Carson Rohde; his vehicle, the many-headed psychedelic funk gull, Satellite Ravens; the album, a mind-expanding zoo of colorful characters from this world and beyond, from yesterday and tomorrow. The hippy vibes are back for a new generation and lift-off is available any time you’re ready.

With Rohdes’ behemoth-like bass guitar skills very much to the fore, “The Equinox” has the shuffling, staggering drums of the 90’s Madchester scene, but with the Day-Glo smarts of US bands like MGMT and early Flaming Lips. From the swooning joy of Suffocated, with its Ween-esque mischievousness to the pseudo-mystical Chili Peppers dream-funk of Encircled, each track builds into an ever-expanding universe, twisting back on itself and latching onto new rhythms, writhing gleefully as it morphs into an entirely new animal. If Space Rock to you is Hawkwind or Spacemen 3, think again – this is the real sound of the cosmos: playful; intriguing but also joyful.

twitter25@satelliteravens
@OCTIV_C @OCTIVENT Streaming site playlists and bashing out a bunch of live shows

Last month from Satellite Ravens's Twitter via Twitter for Android

@whoisshannon_ Basically

About a month ago from Satellite Ravens's Twitter via Twitter for Android

Rather like the deliberately distressed Yes-like album cover, Satellite Ravens have their tongue somewhat in their cheek, but this belies their huge musical talent and often intriguing lyrical content. With elements of jazz, classical, funk, 80s rock and 90s underground psych, this is an album which grows in magnificence with each subsequent listen. Prepare to follow Satellite Ravens in orbit. - Jammerzine

Satellite Ravens
If you’re a fan of late noughties indie-psych, you’re going to love Satellite Ravens. Empire of the Sun, MGMT, and Passion Pit are duly paid homage to in Carson Rohde’s solo guise. Dig deeper into album ‘The Equinox’ and the funk-bass heavy nods to the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers, while the more psychedelic-leaning tracks could sit alongside Foxygen or Tame Impala. Despite the smorgasbord of influences he offers, his intriguing lyrical content and winding vocals cut through the mix. It’s a hugely promising effort from the Californian, especially considering he’s a one-man show. Prepare to follow Satellite Ravens into orbit. - New Music Platform

New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Hatched in Arizona and with wings affixed in California, Satellite Ravens is as close to a one-man band as you can get without the spectacle of someone with cymbals strapped to their knees and an array of whistles around their neck. The creator is multi-instrumentalist, Carson Rohde; his vehicle, the many-headed psychedelic funk gull, Satellite Ravens; the album, a mind-expanding zoo of colourful characters from this world and beyond, from yesterday and tomorrow. The hippy vibes are back for a new generation and lift-off is available any time you're ready. - Top40-Charts

This kooky, pop-styled cosmic project is led by Carson Rohde, a multi-instrumentalist who leads everything to do with the band, making Satellite ravens something new.

The 80’s vibe is something that a lot of artists and musicians introduce into the modern day, however, satellite ravens really push through to enter a new realm of genres that are splashed together, from the funkadelic style of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, to the grounded, earthy sounds of MGMT.

With the release of their brand new full length album ‘The Equinox’, Carson seems to be showing no signs of slowing down. - Know Me Better Music

If you’re a fan of late noughties indie-psych, you’re going to love Satellite Ravens. Empire of the Sun, MGMT, and Passion Pit are duly paid homage to in Carson Rohde’s solo guise. Dig deeper into his album ‘The Equinox’ and the funk-bass nods to the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers, while the more psychedelic-leaning tracks could sit alongside Foxygen or Tame Impala. Despite the smorgasbord of influences he offers, his intriguing lyrical content and winding vocals cut through the mix. It’s a hugely promising effort from the Californian, especially considering he’s a one-man show. Prepare to follow Satellite Ravens into orbit.

‘The Equinox’ is out now. - For The Fans Of

After a short holiday, the award-winning (we assume) Under the Covers returns! Deep joy! Satellite Ravens’ Carson Rohde does the honours.

You’re on your fourth album with a major label – they insist you do a covers album, whereby you interpret your favourite works in your own style. Please select the ten tracks you’d ideally like to cover, along with a brief explanation as to why that artist or track means something to you.

You’re allowed ONE guest artist on the album to contribute to one track

MGMT – Me and Michael. One of my favorite bands, who are frequently mis-labelled and put in a negative light. I find their album tracks amazing and ahead of their time, but their hit singles warped the public’s view of them. I first discovered MGMT, ironically, at church camp in 6th or 7th grade with “Kids”. The camp really tried hard to make Jesus hip and cool. It wasn’t till a few years later, when the whole questioning everything theme came into my head, that I heavily got into them around the time of Congratulations. In college, I became completely obsessed with their strange self-titled 3rd album, probably because it was so weird, and I was a weird guy. I think its a music nerd’s album really. I honestly thought it was a masterpiece, with sounds I could never imagine before. Poetry that was both from 1890 and 2130. The track “Me and Michael” is my favorite off of their new album Little Dark Age. I sense a higher meaning in this song that almost makes me cry every time. My favorite lyrics: “The losing side may never break dividing lines, but sanctity wasn’t thinned out…Me and Michael, its not a question now”



Radiohead – Daydreaming. I vividly remember hearing this track for the first time when it was released. Funny enough, it was exactly 2 years ago today from when I wrote these very words. Songs mean so much to us because they attach to memories and feelings. I was transitioning into a new phase of life, with new creative power and a new girlfriend. That music video really resonated with us all who are a bit more aware in this world. Walking around in a world that is dead and gone mad, complacent and asleep. Lost in the supermarket. I would use Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails as my guest artist on this track. I think him and I could come up with a hard banging version of this sad and slow song.



Smashing Pumpkins – Porcelina of the Vast Oceans – from the epic Melon Collie and the Infinite Sadness album, this track was the cure to many a crazed and lonely teenage nights. That sudden change in the song still hits me hard. “Without a care in this whole world”. Its perfect when you feel like nobody gives a rats ass about the world or other people. The first half has a Hendrix “1983…Mermaid” and Pink Floyd atmosphere to it.



Red Hot Chili Peppers – 21st Century. This track gave me the Funk for the rest of my life. The way the bass line struts and quacks like a duck in your face right from the start amazed me as a kiddo. Now being older, I love the lyrics, which talk about existence in this strange new time of the the new age, with the internet, cell phones, political chaos and what not. Everything is almost a repeat of something else before it. My favorite line is “like the Cain and Able”. I think Anthony Kiedis and Marilyn Manson actually have a lot in common, and probably influence each other



Nirvana – Pennyroyal Tea. My favorite Nirvana song. Kurt had a funny way of speaking to a whole generation of teenagers, making it feel like he was speaking to you and for you. I’m anaemic, and have bad posture, I’m still so tired that I can’t sleep. I feel like a liar and a fake. I sit a drink pennyroyal tea, both piss broke and floating in the realm of something bigger than me.



Bee Gees – More Than A Woman. I listened to this track almost every day on the way to the studio while recording the core of The Equinox. I was inspired by the production, vocal harmonies, and funk grooves. Its a great message for women too. Like you are much more than a piece of meat ya know? Lots of girls aren’t used to that, and more are standing up now than ever. But when you find the right girl, its even more than a woman. Its like a saving grace. Then afterwards they crush your soul, but at least you can feel this feeling for a few weeks right?



David Bowie – Word on a Wing. A great number about trying to change the world, and dealing with these strange illusions in your mind that can be simultaneously helping and harming your progress. Bowie’s famous Station to Station record meant a lot to me during my time in LA, where he also made this record. I felt like I was in a similar head space at the time, for many reasons I shouldn’t talk about he-he-he! Bowie also left LA after this record and so did I. He called LA demonic and I would agree. This track has a smooth Motown feel to it, and some powerful and occult lyrics.



The Doors – Waiting for The Sun. An essential Doors track that really says what they are all about. Plus it just rocks so hard. Its still very relevant today. “This is the strangest life I’ve ever known.” A bit of Doors trivia: this song is not on the actual 1968 Waiting for the Sun album, but was released 2 albums later in 1970 on Morrison Hotel. [there’s an article to be written on bands who do this ed.]



Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention – Who Needs the Peace Corps? Honestly, I’d like to do a whole cover album of We’re Only In It For the Money. Zappa is a big influence to me, from his musicianship and humor, to his intelligence and whacky theories of human society and behaviour. I hope to one day bridge rock and classical music the way he did. This song makes fun of “phoney hippies” in the 60’s that move to San Fransisco, California, do a bunch of drugs, get the crabs, and then go back to their day jobs. I still feel that its very relevant today, for SF and LA. Where’s my Coachella flower crown? Wait hold on, I need to post this darling picture on Instagram.



Jimi Hendrix – May This Be Love. This song truly moves me. It helped me so much to trust my creative voice and find serenity when I finally decided to pursue music. The solo in the outro melts into your heart and flows like a waterfall. “ I can see my rainbow calling me, through mystery beings of my waterfall.


Pink Floyd – Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun. A great track from their second album, A Saucer Full of Secrets. This track sets the direction for the rest of the post- Syd Barrett-era when Roger Waters takes over. Its really fun to play with the band, getting lost in the drone. It captures that hazy time-less small concert hall feeling of their early days in the UK.



St. Vincent – Digital Witness. An awesome song about the danger of these devices we are welcoming into our lives and the place we give them. Its funky, and has lots of cool saxophone lines. Its a banger.



Beatles – Nowhere Man. A killer track with a classic Paul bassline, and edgy lyrics from John, when they are starting to put heavy content in their songs, instead of love and holding hands. Released in 1965, it captures the transition from the suit and tie era into the psychedelic era very well.



Neil Young – Tell Me Why. A deep song that, to myself, touches on the relations of people to banks. I took out way too much money for college loans, and am in the music business. “Tell me why, is it hard to make arrangements with yourself? When you’re old enough to repay, but young enough to sell.”



Flaming Lips – Silver Trembling Hands – the kings of cover albums. I remember a great moment when I saw the Flaming Lips and Tame Impala at the outdoor Greek Theatre in Hollywood, and they each covered two of each others’ songs in between sets. The Terror, the Lips new album and name of the tour, was one of the darkest stints they’ve made. I saw this show 2 days before Halloween, and so it was quite spooky, people dressed up in costumes and masks. My friend and I were pretty high and lit up, so the carnival style concert night threw us for a loop to say the least. It was around the time of all the Edward Snowden releases, ISIS, and the deflated hope of the 2nd term Obama administration drones. Looking back, this was all sort of foreshadowing the post-2016 political crisis. Music was darker and stranger in 2013 than it is now. I guess we need more of a pick-me-up sound in today’s world. Free Radicals, The Sound of Failure, My Comic autumn Rebellion, Vein of Stars, It Overtakes Me



Sly & the Family Stone – If You Want Me To Stay– a great funky track covered by many artists, including RHCP, with an awesome bassline, and feely lyrics. A classic that never gets old. Its an essential Sly Stone song that defines an era of funk music.



Satellite Raven’s album, Equinox, is out now - Sonic News

Following the trends of today, with the triumphant return of things such as Vinyl and Cassette Tape, Psychedelic funk rock band Satellite Ravens have some standout releases to their name including the album ‘The Equinox’.

Getting ready for another bout of something interesting, creator and multi instrumentalist Carson Rohde can now expect nothing but love from his funk rock fans, as well as general music fans, especially with a front cover designed to look like a HIFI Stereo Tape cover, like it was straight out of the late 70’s/early 80’s,’The Equinox’ is a guaranteed must have, giving a small indication that there is so much more to come!

So be sure to check them out: - Hear Me Raw

Taking all musical angles possible to create a fusion based album unlike no other, Satellite Ravens forefront leader ‘Carson Rohde’, has made darn sure he has the funkiest and tastiest bass lines around.

Taking Funk and mixing it up in a rock-pop-jazz medley is probably no small feat for Carson, however, to the average music listener that something that is interesting, rich and full of life, making Satellite Ravens a band to watch out for.

With tracks like bright and colorful ‘Rearranged’, and the always fantastic ‘Changes’, there is no doubt that you will love this album!

Be sure to check him out: - COLOUR ME STUNNED – RAINBOW OF MUSIC –

“Satellite Ravens' -a bass heavy exercise in funk meets art rock meets sweet high dreams”
“From the very beginning [the music] sounds kind of outer worldly and then shape-shifting. The avant garde quality and lush, almost Lennon-esque vocal performance is beautifully unique and the bass break down is badass. I dig this track so much.”
-
Robb Donker - American Pancake music blog and website - American Pancake - Robb Donker

New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Psychedelic Rock artist 'Satellite Ravens' has just premiered a totally bananas new video (sorry bad pun) for his excellent new single 'After Thoughts'. 'After Thoughts' perfectly balances musical experimentation with clever songwriting both with a catchy hook; this track really deserves to be heard! Carson Rhodes aka Satellite Ravens recorded his new album in deserts of Phoenix. He is single handed-ly bringing back the fun found in late 2000's psychedelic music echoing the likes of MGMT, Empire Of The Sun. Not only a supremely talented bass player and multi instrumentalist but a writer intent on creating ever more expansive and intricate music, Carson feverishly experiments with sound and song writing. On the concept for the video Carson said 'As far as the banana concept goes, it was just a random idea my old college roommate, Jack McGuinn, and I came up with (He was an Art major at USC). We were brainstorming music video ideas one night when he pulled up some footage of a banana factory, and this whole video idea came flooding into our hands. There isn't any significance to the banana itself, it just became a happenstance object to focus on while showing sociological class differences and the journey of an object through its whole life cycle. It also gives some light humor to the subject when various political images appear. So, essentially, no the banana is not important in any way. Its all the circumstances that the banana appears in put together that makes it mean something. We loved how random and funny it was while still having a theme and getting a message across. Its almost a mini documentary on the banana'

FOLLOW SATELLITE RAVENS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/satellite.ravens/
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/satellite.ravens/
Website: https://satelliteravens.com/
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/satellite_ravens
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4DWM8jTdcf2wyyWt3a7SzV Read more at: http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=136586 - Top40-Charts

Post of new track on blog - November 2017 -

JUNE 5, 2018 BY ONTHESPOTMUSICBLOG
Space Rock Reaches the 21st Century with Satellite Ravens New Album
Though Space Rock immediately brings to mind 70s bands with 3 songs written on their set list, a large stash of weed and an audience with an awful lot of patience (and probably a similar amount of weed), though somewhat stealthily, the late 80s saw a new breed of artists who were, on one level, similarly cosmically inspired, but employed more to their sound than just a few guitar pedals.

The most influential of these is arguably Flaming Lips, a band who over the course of their career have veered wildly from anarchic cut-ups of sound to keyboard-led almost hymn-like anthems. With bands likes Mercury Rev and MGMT joining the procession along the way, Space Rock is now a far more respectable genre, possibly with slightly better drugs.



Even newer to the wave is Satellite Ravens, essentially a one-man show by Phoenix native, Carson Rohde, whose name we haven’t misspelled, it’s just like that. Carson’s spin is to bring some funk to the mix, as a bass-player first and foremost, this is an interesting development, at time changing the slant to something nearer to Happy Mondays than anything else. Indeed, lead single, Changes, kicks off like it’s disco o’clock 1979 before settling back to a swaggering, bouncing study in dream pop and indie shuffle. Lest you think you’ve got the measure of Satellite Ravens, you’ve had two guitar solos, some background screaming and keyboard rushes before the five minutes are up.

Nearer to the aforementioned Flaming Lips and MGMT is the follow-up, Suffocated, though the more obvious comparison is Radiohead, with Carson’s falsetto being very Thom-esque. This is less stompy and more sparkly, with some lovely floating melodies and a bass that rolls in and out like crashing waves. It borders on being too good for it to have come from one person, though there is a suspicion that extra influence from band -mates may tighten up some of the lengthier instrumental indulgences. A tighter edit on this and you’d be looking at prime radio play.

After Thoughts is more confused. At over six minutes, the main melody is colossal, a beautifully crafted majestic avalanche – however, to stretch out the epicness, there are crunchy tempo changes and rather more angular scratching – absolutely fine for live shows but for an album when you’re a complete unknown, it’s a little reckless. These are no longer days where you can look fondly back at your early albums and think how you’ve gone from avant-garde to full orchestra – audiences have less time and, critically, less money.

HF3A2799.jpg

Enclircled continues to drift towards experimentation, though in a more relaxed, poppy way. It’s the track you’d go to the bar during, though with a slight spring in your step. Equinox Ashes, the album’s lynch-pin, is Carson throwing the kitchen sink at a song, as if you’d foolishly come to conclusion that you’d already experienced the full extent of his potential freakouts. The solo bass breaks guitar are a little too self-indulgent, with few, other than other bass players surely finding anything of worth during these interludes. On the other hand, the more orchestrated elements combining several instruments and effects are tremendously satisfying, a huge credit to both player and arranger. Closing with Searching for a Reason and Rearrange, you’re left with a feeling that you’ve experienced something significant – not something yet fully rounded but something which is definitely leading somewhere. A fine effort.

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/satellite_ravens

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4DWM8jTdcf2wyyWt3a7SzV

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/satellite.ravens/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/satelliteravens

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/satellite.ravens/

Website: https://satelliteravens.com/ - On the Spot Music

Hatched in Arizona and with wings affixed in California, Satellite Ravens is as close to a one-man band as you can get without the spectacle of someone with cymbals strapped to their knees and an array of whistles around their neck. The creator is multi-instrumentalist, Carson Rohde; his vehicle, the many-headed psychedelic funk gull, Satellite Ravens; the album, a mind-expanding zoo of colourful characters from this world and beyond, from yesterday and tomorrow. The hippy vibes are back for a new generation and lift-off is available any time you’re ready.



With Rohdes’ behemoth-like bass guitar skills very much to the fore, “The Equinox” has the shuffling, staggering drums of the 90’s Madchester scene, but with the day-glo smarts of US bands like MGMT and early Flaming Lips. From the swooning joy of Suffocated, with its Ween-esque mischievousness to the pseudo-mystical Chili Peppers dream-funk of Encircled, each track builds into ever-expanding universe, twisting back on itself and latching onto new rhythms, writhing gleefully as it morphs into an entirely new animal. If Space Rock to you is Hawkwind or Spacemen 3, think again – this is the real sound of the cosmos: playful; intriguing but also joyful.

Rather like the deliberately distressed Yes-like album cover, Satellite Ravens have their tongue somewhat in their cheek, but this belies their huge musical talent and often intriguing lyrical content. With elements of jazz, classical, funk, 80s rock and 90s underground psych, this is an album which grows in magnificence with each subsequent listen. Prepare to follow Satellite Ravens in orbit. - MyDadRocks24/7

If you’re a fan of late noughties indie-psych, you’re going to love Satellite Ravens. Empire of the Sun, MGMT, and Passion Pit are duly paid homage to on ‘The Equinox‘ – but that’s just skimming the surface of what makes up his complex music DNA. Man-behind-the-music, Carson Rohde, tells Indie Crush how LA life, the transition to adulthood, and his love of bass have filtered into his debut album.

Where and when did the album come to fruition?

The Equinox album was written during my college years at USC Thornton School of Music in Los Angeles and finished eight months after graduating and transitioning into the outside world. I was constantly traveling back and forth between Arizona, and California. One day I’m in Downtown, next day I’m 10 miles deep in the woods in a wood cabin, then another day stuck in the suburbs. The album was then recorded, produced, and mixed in several different cities.

How have these various places and cultures shaped the concept of the album?

Elements of each location made its way into inspiring the music. So this record is an ‘equinox’, full of transitions, ‘changes’, chaos, questions, responses, searching for meanings, developing and expanding mindsets, roller coasters of romances, and moving physical locations. I framed the release of ‘The Equinox’ around the week of the celestial Spring Equinox, symbolically a new start and the beginning of spring.

How has living in LA affection your perception of the music industry?

I have lived in Los Angeles and Oakland California for five years now and I feel it’s over-saturated with people trying to ‘make it’. There are too many ego obsessed diva artistés out there today, and I would like to poke fun at this trend by mocking it, replicating it in a subtle and sarcastic fashion. I love the idea of being whimsical, wacky, random, shocking, playful, and somewhat controversial. All publicity is good publicity as they say in Hollywood.

LA-based indie-rock act Satellite Ravens have released debut album 'The Equinox'

You’re something of a virtuoso when it comes to bass, where did you hone your chops?

My parents and I believed that a classical training was paramount to being a truly great musician, so I started piano at five years old and double bass at ten. I took the double bass very seriously, moving on to state and national youth orchestras and concerto competitions in my teen years. I studied private bass lessons with Barry Olson, the Principal Bassist for the Phoenix Symphony for 8 years, before studying Popular Music at USC.

Did you play any other instruments on the record?

I wrote performed nearly every vocal and instrumental part of this record myself (except for a few drum and violin parts). Instruments I played on this record were: Vocals, Vocal harmonies, bass guitar, guitars, synths, keyboards, piano, electric drums, drum set, cello, and upright bass.

Listen to Satellite Ravens on the Indie Crush playlist:


Follow Satellite Ravens:

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/satellite_ravens

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4DWM8jTdcf2wyyWt3a7SzV

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuJAay056LCLnCks9ua9Duw?view_as=subscriber

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/satellite.ravens/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/satelliteravens

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/satellite.ravens/

Website: https://satelliteravens.com/ - Indie Crush

It only takes one Satellite Ravens song to know that Carson Rohde is a virtuoso bass player. Debut album ‘The Equinox’ is an ode to late noughties indie-pscyh, centered around funk-heavy basslines. On the surface, the record is comparable to the likes of Empire of the Sun, MGMT, and Passion Pit. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find Rohde’s bass influences stretch far and wide.

“I’m influenced by Tchaikovsky just as much as Pink Floyd, Black Flag, or Aphex Twin,” the Californian tells us. “Rock/pop has always been an interest of mine, however, my parents and I believed that a classical training was paramount to being a truly great musician.”

So, the aficionado took up double bass at the tender age of 10, before moving on to state and national orchestras and concerto competitions in his teen years. But it was under the mentor-ship of the Phoenix Symphony’s principal bassist, Barry Olson, that Rohde’s really became the masterful player he is today.

He went on to utilise his bass talents in a songwriting capacity during his Popular Music degree at USC Thornton, which resulted in ‘The Equinox’. Now, you can watch Rohde’s playthrough of ‘AfterThoughts’ lifted from the record, along with a rig rundown. Enjoy! - Rig Rundown