The Big Dish – Satellites

The Big Dish – Satellites

Satellites is the second studio album from Scottish indie rock band The Big Dish, originally released in 1989. Fronted by singer and songwriter Steven Lindsay, the band developed a distinctive sound that combined melodic guitar pop with atmospheric arrangements, thoughtful songwriting and an unmistakably Scottish indie sensibility.

Formed in Airdrie, Scotland, in the early 1980s, The Big Dish became part of the vibrant Scottish independent music scene alongside artists such as The Blue Nile, Lloyd Cole and The Jesus And Mary Chain. Their music stood apart through its combination of jangling and chiming guitars, polished production and Lindsay's expressive vocals, creating a sophisticated style that sat somewhere between indie rock, alternative pop and atmospheric guitar music.

Satellites followed the band's acclaimed debut album Swimmer and marked an important stage in their development. Produced by Warne Livesey, the album expanded The Big Dish's sound with a fuller studio production while retaining the melodic songwriting that had established their reputation. The record was released on Virgin Records in the UK in 1989, during a period when British alternative and indie music was becoming increasingly adventurous and commercially visible.

The album opens with Miss America, a melodic and immediately accessible introduction to the band's sound, before moving through the reflective State Of The Union and the atmospheric Across The Province. Give Me Some Time and 25 Years showcase Lindsay's ability to combine personal, emotionally direct lyrics with memorable guitar-led arrangements, while Big Town and Shipwrecked add further variety to the album's carefully crafted sound.

The second half features Warning Sign, Bonafide and Learn To Love, completing a collection that balances understated indie rock with sophisticated pop songwriting. Across Satellites, The Big Dish create music that is melodic and polished without losing the intimacy and character of their earlier work.

A great choice for fans of The Big Dish, Scottish indie rock, The Blue Nile, Prefab Sprout, Lloyd Cole, Aztec Camera and melodic alternative guitar music, Satellites is an excellent example of the sophisticated end of late-1980s British indie pop and a worthwhile addition to any collection of Scottish alternative music.

Tracklist

1. Miss America – 3:56
2. State Of The Union – 4:31
3. Across The Province – 4:40
4. Give Me Some Time – 3:15
5. 25 Years – 4:03
6. Big Town – 4:05
7. Shipwrecked – 4:52
8. Warning Sign – 3:27
9. Bonafide – 4:25
10. Learn To Love – 4:07