Review: By Choice or Design LP by Anecdata

R E V I E W
By Choice or Design LP
by Anecdata

Since 2009, former Hamiltonian Dan Satherley has been recording prolifically under the moniker ‘Radio Over Moscow’. Frustrated with the fact that a number of other bands have also been releasing music under (t)his name, he has decided to change the name of his project to ‘Anecdata’. And he has just released his first album under ‘Anecdata’, called 'By Choice or Design'.

If you are acquainted with Satherley's indie-electro Radio Over Moscow outputs, you will still largely be on familiar ground here. Many of these songs have similarities to the more upbeat and accessible tracks he has released previously, which in my opinion puts them among his best. Also, similarly, the album still has all the quirky lyrics you expect from a Dan Satherley project, including the expected sci-fi (and occasional New Zealand political) references.

​One of my favourite tracks so far, however, is ‘The Time Traveller's Dilemma’, which to me seems very reminiscent of something from Kraftwerk’s ‘The Man Machine’ mashed up with the opening theme from Arthur C. Clarkes Mysterious World. It is different from the rest of the album, being slower than most, and with the vocals more robotic, but I rate it as one of the best songs Satherley has released. Magic! If you only have a few minutes to check the album out, perhaps start with the title track, By Choice or Design, which gives a good indication of the sound of the rest of the album. Overall, great stuff! - Ian Duggan

Listen to the rest of 'By Choice or Design' here: 
https://anecdata.bandcamp.com/album/by-choice-or-design

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