{"id":41,"date":"2024-10-18T07:12:36","date_gmt":"2024-10-18T07:12:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/52.58.80.158\/?page_id=41"},"modified":"2025-04-15T14:41:02","modified_gmt":"2025-04-15T14:41:02","slug":"astrolaberecords-eu-dark-satellite","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/?page_id=41","title":{"rendered":"dark satellite"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/52.58.80.158\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Dark_Satellite_promo_no_border_lite-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-179\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Dark_Satellite_promo_no_border_lite-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Dark_Satellite_promo_no_border_lite-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Dark_Satellite_promo_no_border_lite-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Dark_Satellite_promo_no_border_lite-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Dark_Satellite_promo_no_border_lite-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Dark_Satellite_promo_no_border_lite-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Dark_Satellite_promo_no_border_lite-1200x1200.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Dark_Satellite_promo_no_border_lite-1980x1980.jpg 1980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left\">The Modern Illusion \u2014 <em>\u201cit&#8217;s about the 70&#8217;s California we idolized&#8221;.<\/em><br><br>Two satellites on a collision course. After so many sessions and productions for other artists, it was, of course, bound to happen that&nbsp;<strong>Paul Curtiz<\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>Denis Moulin<\/strong>&nbsp;should have their own project. And if there\u2019s one thing to be said for global pandemics, there\u2019s certainly a chapter about having a bit of time on your hands and a lot of music waiting to pour out of your brain. \u201cWe always knew it would happen, sooner or later. It just happened to be the right time for&nbsp;<strong>dark satellite<\/strong>.\u201d <br><a href=\"#biography\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"41\">(<em>full biography at the bottom of the page<\/em>)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: The Modern Illusion\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/3F2DVXmtr6IGpOTJOyDMzy?utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Listen to &#8220;<em>The Modern Illusion<\/em>&#8221; on Spotify<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Modern Illusion\" width=\"580\" height=\"326\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/videoseries?list=OLAK5uy_luKyJnXm6wd7Rlr2HbBxVXOGDnLRngtaU\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Listen to &#8220;<em>The Modern Illusion<\/em>&#8221; on YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-819e8fb0edf0b86e1daf8cfd2991915d\" style=\"color:#64a1ae\">Buy the album <a href=\"https:\/\/darksatellitemusic.bandcamp.com\/album\/the-modern-illusion\">here<\/a>:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/darksatellitemusic.bandcamp.com\/album\/the-modern-illusion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"161\" src=\"http:\/\/52.58.80.158\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Bandcamp-logotype-color.svg_-1024x161.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-125\" style=\"width:303px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Bandcamp-logotype-color.svg_-1024x161.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Bandcamp-logotype-color.svg_-300x47.png 300w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Bandcamp-logotype-color.svg_-768x121.png 768w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Bandcamp-logotype-color.svg_-1536x242.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Bandcamp-logotype-color.svg_-1200x189.png 1200w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Bandcamp-logotype-color.svg_.png 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(click on Bandcamp logo to go to the album page)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">album available on CD or digital download<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"691\" src=\"http:\/\/52.58.80.158\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/DS_CD_mockup_lite.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-127\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/DS_CD_mockup_lite.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/DS_CD_mockup_lite-300x207.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/DS_CD_mockup_lite-768x531.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"875\" src=\"http:\/\/52.58.80.158\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Free_Cd_Jewel_Case_Mockup_4_lite.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-128\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Free_Cd_Jewel_Case_Mockup_4_lite.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Free_Cd_Jewel_Case_Mockup_4_lite-300x263.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Free_Cd_Jewel_Case_Mockup_4_lite-768x672.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-social-links is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-social-links-is-layout-1 wp-block-social-links-is-layout-flex\"><li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-bandcamp  wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/darksatellitemusic.bandcamp.com\/album\/the-modern-illusion\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M15.27 17.289 3 17.289 8.73 6.711 21 6.711 15.27 17.289\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Bandcamp<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-facebook  wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61558165956599\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M12 2C6.5 2 2 6.5 2 12c0 5 3.7 9.1 8.4 9.9v-7H7.9V12h2.5V9.8c0-2.5 1.5-3.9 3.8-3.9 1.1 0 2.2.2 2.2.2v2.5h-1.3c-1.2 0-1.6.8-1.6 1.6V12h2.8l-.4 2.9h-2.3v7C18.3 21.1 22 17 22 12c0-5.5-4.5-10-10-10z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link 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s0.009-2.688,0.052-3.637c0.04-0.877,0.187-1.354,0.31-1.671c0.163-0.42,0.358-0.72,0.673-1.035 c0.315-0.315,0.615-0.51,1.035-0.673c0.317-0.123,0.794-0.27,1.671-0.31C9.312,4.631,9.597,4.622,12,4.622 M12,3 C9.556,3,9.249,3.01,8.289,3.054C7.331,3.098,6.677,3.25,6.105,3.472C5.513,3.702,5.011,4.01,4.511,4.511 c-0.5,0.5-0.808,1.002-1.038,1.594C3.25,6.677,3.098,7.331,3.054,8.289C3.01,9.249,3,9.556,3,12c0,2.444,0.01,2.751,0.054,3.711 c0.044,0.958,0.196,1.612,0.418,2.185c0.23,0.592,0.538,1.094,1.038,1.594c0.5,0.5,1.002,0.808,1.594,1.038 c0.572,0.222,1.227,0.375,2.185,0.418C9.249,20.99,9.556,21,12,21s2.751-0.01,3.711-0.054c0.958-0.044,1.612-0.196,2.185-0.418 c0.592-0.23,1.094-0.538,1.594-1.038c0.5-0.5,0.808-1.002,1.038-1.594c0.222-0.572,0.375-1.227,0.418-2.185 C20.99,14.751,21,14.444,21,12s-0.01-2.751-0.054-3.711c-0.044-0.958-0.196-1.612-0.418-2.185c-0.23-0.592-0.538-1.094-1.038-1.594 c-0.5-0.5-1.002-0.808-1.594-1.038c-0.572-0.222-1.227-0.375-2.185-0.418C14.751,3.01,14.444,3,12,3L12,3z M12,7.378 c-2.552,0-4.622,2.069-4.622,4.622S9.448,16.622,12,16.622s4.622-2.069,4.622-4.622S14.552,7.378,12,7.378z M12,15 c-1.657,0-3-1.343-3-3s1.343-3,3-3s3,1.343,3,3S13.657,15,12,15z M16.804,6.116c-0.596,0-1.08,0.484-1.08,1.08 s0.484,1.08,1.08,1.08c0.596,0,1.08-0.484,1.08-1.08S17.401,6.116,16.804,6.116z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Instagram<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-amazon  wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/music.amazon.com\/albums\/B0D89WNDCW\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M13.582,8.182C11.934,8.367,9.78,8.49,8.238,9.166c-1.781,0.769-3.03,2.337-3.03,4.644 c0,2.953,1.86,4.429,4.253,4.429c2.02,0,3.125-0.477,4.685-2.065c0.516,0.747,0.685,1.109,1.629,1.894 c0.212,0.114,0.483,0.103,0.672-0.066l0.006,0.006c0.567-0.505,1.599-1.401,2.18-1.888c0.231-0.188,0.19-0.496,0.009-0.754 c-0.52-0.718-1.072-1.303-1.072-2.634V8.305c0-1.876,0.133-3.599-1.249-4.891C15.23,2.369,13.422,2,12.04,2 C9.336,2,6.318,3.01,5.686,6.351C5.618,6.706,5.877,6.893,6.109,6.945l2.754,0.298C9.121,7.23,9.308,6.977,9.357,6.72 c0.236-1.151,1.2-1.706,2.284-1.706c0.584,0,1.249,0.215,1.595,0.738c0.398,0.584,0.346,1.384,0.346,2.061V8.182z M13.049,14.088 c-0.451,0.8-1.169,1.291-1.967,1.291c-1.09,0-1.728-0.83-1.728-2.061c0-2.42,2.171-2.86,4.227-2.86v0.615 C13.582,12.181,13.608,13.104,13.049,14.088z M20.683,19.339C18.329,21.076,14.917,22,11.979,22c-4.118,0-7.826-1.522-10.632-4.057 c-0.22-0.199-0.024-0.471,0.241-0.317c3.027,1.762,6.771,2.823,10.639,2.823c2.608,0,5.476-0.541,8.115-1.66 C20.739,18.62,21.072,19.051,20.683,19.339z M21.336,21.043c-0.194,0.163-0.379,0.076-0.293-0.139 c0.284-0.71,0.92-2.298,0.619-2.684c-0.301-0.386-1.99-0.183-2.749-0.092c-0.23,0.027-0.266-0.173-0.059-0.319 c1.348-0.946,3.555-0.673,3.811-0.356C22.925,17.773,22.599,19.986,21.336,21.043z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Amazon<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-youtube  wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/youtube.com\/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_knLz8hRinz_TW4KWYzZSnl_sU2isKVqLs\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M21.8,8.001c0,0-0.195-1.378-0.795-1.985c-0.76-0.797-1.613-0.801-2.004-0.847c-2.799-0.202-6.997-0.202-6.997-0.202 h-0.009c0,0-4.198,0-6.997,0.202C4.608,5.216,3.756,5.22,2.995,6.016C2.395,6.623,2.2,8.001,2.2,8.001S2,9.62,2,11.238v1.517 c0,1.618,0.2,3.237,0.2,3.237s0.195,1.378,0.795,1.985c0.761,0.797,1.76,0.771,2.205,0.855c1.6,0.153,6.8,0.201,6.8,0.201 s4.203-0.006,7.001-0.209c0.391-0.047,1.243-0.051,2.004-0.847c0.6-0.607,0.795-1.985,0.795-1.985s0.2-1.618,0.2-3.237v-1.517 C22,9.62,21.8,8.001,21.8,8.001z M9.935,14.594l-0.001-5.62l5.404,2.82L9.935,14.594z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">YouTube<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p id=\"biography\"><strong>dark satellite \u2013 \u201cthe modern illusion\u201d (a sortabiography)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"519\" src=\"http:\/\/52.58.80.158\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Billboard_lite-1024x519.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-130\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Billboard_lite-1024x519.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Billboard_lite-300x152.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Billboard_lite-768x389.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Billboard_lite-1536x778.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Billboard_lite-1200x608.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Billboard_lite-1980x1003.jpg 1980w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Billboard_lite.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Two satellites on a collision course. After so many sessions, concerts and productions for other artists, it was bound to happen that <strong>Denis Moulin <\/strong>and <strong>Paul Curtiz<\/strong> should finally work together on their own project. And if there\u2019s one thing to be said for global pandemics, there\u2019s probably a chapter about having a bit of time on your hands and a lot of music waiting to get out of your system. \u201c<em>We always knew we would do something of our own, sooner or later. It just happened to be the right time for <strong>dark satellite<\/strong>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Denis and Paul have crossed paths countless times during their respective careers, resulting in a long-standing friendship and obviously creating a fertile ground for a common effort. Although steeped in soul, funk and jazz, both musicians have worked in eclectic genres throughout their musical journey. But this one was to be different. \u201c<em>We started it as a bit of a joke: let\u2019s do a clich\u00e9 \u201csmooth Yacht Rock\u201d slash West Coast tune. At first it was just one song, but then they just kept coming. And before we knew it, we had an album. It\u2019s been some of the most fun I ever had making music<\/em>\u201d, says Curtiz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>The Modern Illusion<\/em><\/strong>, <strong>dark satellite<\/strong>\u2019s debut album, is a collection of songs infused with road trips, retro sci-fi, faux-Hollywood and quirky characters. \u201c<em>It\u2019s a romanticized version of the 70\u2019s and 80\u2019s, reminiscing about discovering the US and California right as we were coming of age, and turning on the radio to hear nothing but Steely Dan or the Doobie Brothers. That whole vibe, we just went shamelessly for it and turned it into our own cultural appropriation version<\/em>\u201d, says Moulin. \u201c<em>Think West Coast, Normandy<\/em>\u201d, Curtiz adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The West Coast inspired trifecta of <strong><em>Nothing Like California<\/em><\/strong>, <strong><em>Hollywood<\/em><\/strong> and <strong><em>D.A.B.<\/em><\/strong> indeed sets the mood. \u201c<em>We imagined this couple on a week-end road trip somewhere in North-Western Europe during one of our not-so-bright summers, fantasizing about the much more vacation-friendly California weather. We drew on all the clich\u00e9s \u2014even though some of them are very real. It\u2019s L.A. and Hollywood from our shallow perspective, with our European culture as a reference point <\/em>\u201d, says Curtiz. \u201c<em>Yeah, we probably won\u2019t be making any new friends in California<\/em>\u201d, chuckles Moulin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These serve as the perfect background setting for songs very much anchored in our own crazy epoch. \u201c<strong><em>Flat Earth Dean<\/em><\/strong><em> came about as a reflection on trying to argue with people who mistake opinion for fact. It\u2019s easy to make fun of them, but in the end we\u2019re still going to have to be living together in the same society. So how do we make that work?\u201d<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Asked about <strong><em>Another Movie<\/em><\/strong>, a reprimand and threat-filled monologue from a sleazy movie producer to his trophy starlet girlfriend set in a (hopefully) bygone era, Curtiz is prompt to reply: \u201c<em>If we want change, we need to acknowledge things used to be different. Of course this guy is a dirtbag. But it used to be like that <\/em>(in the entertainment industry)<em>, wasn\u2019t it ? It probably still is to some extent. The last thing we should do is erase the past. We should learn from it.<\/em>\u201d Moulin jumps in : \u201c<em>So let\u2019s make this character a shameless asshole, turn him into a full-on caricature, and have fun with it. The more he says, the deeper the whole he digs for himself.<\/em>\u201d (By the way, extra points if you can spot references to a Blake Edwards production).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With <strong><em>Jetpack<\/em><\/strong>, <strong>dark satellite<\/strong> have delivered a protest song dressed as a postcard from the 60\u2019s: \u201c<em>As kids, we were raised in that era, mid-late 60\u2019s, early 70\u2019s<\/em>\u201d, says Curtiz. \u201c<em>Right into the Jetsons re-runs<\/em>\u201d, quips Moulin. \u201c<em>Jetpacks and flying cars were the promise of the future. And alongside the technological advance, we were obviously headed for a better society, one of peace, equality and a better life for everyone. Boy, did we get that wrong! Somehow we ended up in Blade Runner. Oops.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Twisted relationships also get their moment although Curtiz is quick to say \u201c<em>Those aren\u2019t autobiographical. We might have lifted \u201cmoments\u201d from people we know, but the stories are made up \u2013 except perhaps for the idea that kickstarted <strong>Penny Wants A Ballad<\/strong>. Denis played the demos of the album for his daughter <\/em>(Penelope, also a gifted musician)<em> who said she liked it but that it was missing a ballad. Challenge accepted! We came up with two of them \u2014the other one being <strong>Bora Bora<\/strong>, just because we\u2019ve both been there and have both had mixed feelings about the tropical paradise thing. Not to mention, when you fly from Paris to Tahiti, the one stop-over is L.A., of course. So that was an easy tie-in to the theme. And since we\u2019re on the topic of flying, <strong>Kerosene<\/strong> came about because we wanted to find out how many \u201cRight Stuff-isms\u201d we could cram in there, in a Raymond Queneau type of exercize\u201d, <\/em>explains Curtiz<em>. \u201cAlso, take a minute to reflect on the guy naming his daughter \u201cKerosene<\/em>\u201d, laughs Moulin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moving along the track list, Curtiz says: <em>\u201c<strong>Never Saw It Coming<\/strong> is our \u201csad loser\u201d track. I never cease to be amazed by people who have no relationship radar at all\u201d. <\/em>Moulin adds<em> \u201c\u2026and <strong>Encore <\/strong>is pretty much the same but from the perspective of a musician, ha ha ha. Yeah, we function in twisted ways. We liked the idea of making it sound like a band playing this tiny club to a mostly indifferent audience, hustling our record to a few drunken souls over the noise of glasses and cutlery. If you\u2019ve played long enough, you\u2019ve been there and done that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of course, sooner or later the elephant in the room, or rather, shall we say \u201c<em>Burrough\u2019s metallic pleasure device<\/em>\u201d also needed to be addressed. \u201c<em>Well obviously the record is a Steely Dan homage. And we hope we did it in a way that will speak to the audience. We tried to catch the vibe, even though the songs quickly took on a life of their own. In any case it\u2019s only our interpretation of that vibe. But to even imagine we\u2019ve come near to what they did? In the words of Donnie Brasco, \u201cfuggetaboutit\u201d. These guys play in a league of their own. So if anyone complains that it sounds even remotely close to Steely Dan, it\u2019ll be \u201cmission accomplished <\/em>\u201d, notes Moulin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s a double nod to Walter Becker, starting with <strong><em>Walter Speaks<\/em><\/strong>. Says Curtiz, \u201c<em>Musically I\u2019m probably leaning ever so slightly more towards Fagen, but Walter Becker \u2014besides being a stellar musician\u2014 makes me laugh and laugh. There are treasures of comedy in everything he wrote \u2014and he wrote a lot. The guy had a difficult youth and humor is always a good weapon to get through tough times. So we came up with this witty character able to share his wisdom while playing verbal tennis over the head of idiots.\u201d &nbsp;\u201cWith <strong>Red Guitar,<\/strong> we stumbled upon a very rough version of one of his demos online \u2013 and I was intrigued, because I have a thing for red guitars. We got to thinking \u2014Hey, we should add a cover to the record, and what better cover than an unreleased WB track! It\u2019s a melancholy song about a fictitious up and coming band, with a very poetic set of lyrics. It was just a one or two-minute demo, very basic, so we had to flesh it out a bit and we took some liberties in the coda. Again, we hope we did it justice. And yes, we asked permission.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of the songs were created with both musicians working remotely from their own studios. \u201c<em>We started this in the middle of a pandemic, unable to travel. We just sent each other audio files and talked a lot over the phone. It sounds unpractical but we\u2019ve actually been doing that (<\/em>online music collaborations<em>) for decades, we know the drill. Of course, when we were finally able to get together in the same room it took us minutes to fix things we\u2019d been arguing about over the phone for weeks<\/em>\u201d. Both multi-instrumentists, they played everything themselves on the early versions of the songs. \u201c<em>We were happy with the tunes, but if we were aiming for that West Coast league, we knew we\u2019d have to \u201cup our game\u201d when it would come to the finished product. We\u2019re just lucky we have so many fabulous musicians around us<\/em>\u201d, says Moulin. Once all songs were ready, <strong>dark satellite <\/strong>booked a studio and enlisted the help of a select group of like-minded musicians who elevated the project to the next level. \u201c<em>Working as we did with just the two of us at first, we made the record without any logistical constraints about a band in mind. But then we had all these amazing musicians helping out \u2014and the record is so much better because of them. Of course, now we want to play these tunes in front of audiences, and it\u2019s going to require a big line-up because the music demands it. But we\u2019re eager to play!<\/em>\u201d, says Curtiz. \u201c<em>It\u2019s gonna be so smooooth!<\/em>\u201d quips Moulin. In the meantime, <strong><em>The Modern Illusion<\/em><\/strong> should quench anyone\u2019s thirst for quirky infectious jazz-pop tunes.<br><br><strong>dark satellite <\/strong>were helped by a bunch of \u00fcber talented musicians:<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Yves Baibay<\/strong> &#8211; drums<br>(<em>Maurane, William Sheller, BJ Scott<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Nicolas Fiszman<\/strong> &#8211; guitar<br>(<em>Cabrel, Zazie, Sting\u2026 amongst many, many others<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Kamil Rustam<\/strong> &#8211; guitar<br><em>(from France Gall to Peter Gabriel to Stevie Wonder\u2026)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dominique VanTomme<\/strong> &#8211; piano &amp; keys<br>(<em>Axelle Red, Vaya Con Dios, Tony Levin<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Olivier Bodson<\/strong> &#8211; trumpet &amp; fluglehorn<br>(<em>amongst others Lavilliers, Soulsister<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Jan Eggermont<\/strong> &#8211; saxophone<br>(<em>Axelle Red, Soulsister<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Peter Delannoye<\/strong> &#8211; trombone<br>(<em>Axelle Red, Soulsister<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Vincent Faucher<\/strong> &#8211; guitar<br>(<em>Lavilliers, Marc Lavoine<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Penelope Antena<\/strong> &#8211; backing vocals<br>(<em>solo artist and Denis\u2019 daughter<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Monique Harcum<\/strong> &#8211; backing vocals<br>(<em>singer of Mo &amp; Grazz<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Manuel Destanque<\/strong> &#8211; slide guitar<br>(<em>Manuto, Black &amp; Blue<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rune Thoen<\/strong> &#8211; guitar<br>(<em>Norway<\/em>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>John J. Dooher<\/strong> &#8211; percussion<br>(<em>Canada<\/em>)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/52.58.80.158\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_9891_edit2_lite-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-122\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_9891_edit2_lite-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_9891_edit2_lite-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_9891_edit2_lite-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_9891_edit2_lite-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_9891_edit2_lite-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_9891_edit2_lite-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_9891_edit2_lite-1200x1200.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/IMG_9891_edit2_lite-1980x1980.jpg 1980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Paul Curtiz \u2014 Denis Moulin<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Paul Curtiz<\/strong> has been active on the musical scene for longer than he cares to admit. Some of his credits include <em>Chris Yates<\/em> (Crepuscule), <em>Antuka Vraiment<\/em> (CBS France), <em>Perry Rose<\/em> (T4A\/Sony), <em>Marka<\/em> (Sony France), as well as <em>Owen Curtiz<\/em> (T4A\/Sony\/CNR), his duo with St\u00e9phane Owen. He has had albums released in Belgium, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Japan and Asia (T4A\/Sony\/JVC), and he wrote Belgium\u2019s 2007 entry for Eurovision (\u201c<em>Lovepower<\/em>\u201d\/<em>KMG\u2019s<\/em>-T4A\/Universal). He is still actively touring with Belgian 80\u2019s funk outfit <em>Allez Allez <\/em>(Virgin).<br><br><strong>Denis Moulin<\/strong> was an artistic story waiting to happen, born in a family of writers, poets and musicians. Forever surrounded by music, he became a studio musician at a very young age. He has toured with <em>Klaus Klang<\/em>, <em>Black &amp; Blue<\/em> (Crepuscule) and has produced and worked on records for countless artists such as <em>Lais<\/em> (EMI), <em>Mo &amp; Grazz<\/em>, <em>Jeff Bodart<\/em> (PIAS), <em>Miossec<\/em> (PIAS), <em>Sioen<\/em> (EMI) and of course his father <em>Marc Moulin<\/em> (Blue Note, also of <em>Telex <\/em>and <em>Placebo<\/em> fame). He has toured with and produced many releases by singer <em>Isabelle Antena<\/em> (Crepuscule\/Island\/JVC) \u2014to whom he is married.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>dark satellite<\/strong> \u2013<strong><em>The Modern Illusion<\/em><\/strong> (\u00a9 2024 astrolabe records)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"http:\/\/52.58.80.158\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ALBUM-COVER-dark-satellite-2-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-57\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ALBUM-COVER-dark-satellite-2-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ALBUM-COVER-dark-satellite-2-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ALBUM-COVER-dark-satellite-2-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ALBUM-COVER-dark-satellite-2-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ALBUM-COVER-dark-satellite-2-1536x1536.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ALBUM-COVER-dark-satellite-2-2048x2048.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ALBUM-COVER-dark-satellite-2-1200x1200.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/ALBUM-COVER-dark-satellite-2-1980x1980.jpg 1980w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">dark satellite<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>(what they&#8217;re saying about dark satellite)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1753\" height=\"421\" src=\"http:\/\/52.58.80.158\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/west-coast-soul.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-236\" style=\"width:616px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/west-coast-soul.png 1753w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/west-coast-soul-300x72.png 300w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/west-coast-soul-1024x246.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/west-coast-soul-768x184.png 768w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/west-coast-soul-1536x369.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/west-coast-soul-1200x288.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1753px) 100vw, 1753px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>By Thomas Splett<\/em><br><em>Aug 14, 2024<br><br>Dark Satellite, the dynamic duo of Denis Moulin and Paul Curtiz, have delivered a captivating debut album, The Modern Illusion, that masterfully blends West Coast music nostalgia with a modern twist. After years of collaborating on various projects, the two musicians finally came together during the global pandemic to create an album that is as fun as it is musically sophisticated.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rooted in the smooth vibes of 70s and 80s West Coast AOR,&nbsp;<em>The Modern Illusion<\/em>&nbsp;is an eclectic collection of songs that transport listeners on a road trip through retro sci-fi landscapes, quirky Hollywood fantasies, and reflective musings on today\u2019s society. The album is a playful homage to the music of Steely Dan and The Doobie Brothers, with tracks like \u201cNothing Like California\u201d and \u201cHollywood\u201d immersing you in a romanticized version of California, seen through the lens of European culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the album\u2019s standout tracks, \u201cFlat Earth Dean,\u201d is a clever commentary on the current state of discourse, highlighting the challenge of coexisting with differing viewpoints in today\u2019s world. Meanwhile, \u201cAnother Movie\u201d offers a satirical look at the darker side of the entertainment industry, with a biting portrayal of a sleazy movie producer that\u2019s both amusing and thought-provoking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Moulin and Curtiz\u2019s ability to mix humor with poignant observations shines through on songs like \u201cJetpack,\u201d where they wistfully reflect on the unfulfilled promises of the future, and \u201cPenny Wants A Ballad,\u201d a response to Moulin\u2019s daughter\u2019s request for more tender moments on the album. The duo\u2019s musical chemistry is evident throughout, with the tracks seamlessly blending their diverse influences of soul, funk, and jazz into a cohesive and delightful listening experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The production of&nbsp;<em>The Modern Illusion<\/em>&nbsp;is top-notch, featuring contributions from a host of talented musicians who elevate the album to new heights. Despite the challenges of remote collaboration, Moulin and Curtiz have crafted a polished and vibrant album that is sure to resonate with fans of smooth AOR and beyond.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the end,&nbsp;<em>The Modern Illusion<\/em>&nbsp;is more than just an album\u2014it\u2019s a journey through time, culture, and sound. Dark Satellite has managed to create something fresh yet familiar, quirky yet sincere. This debut is a testament to the enduring appeal of West Coast-inspired music, with a modern twist that makes it uniquely their own. Whether you\u2019re a long-time fan of the genre or just looking for something new to groove to,&nbsp;<em>The Modern Illusion<\/em>&nbsp;is well worth the listen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/westcoastsoul.de\/album-review-the-modern-illusion-by-dark-satellite\">https:\/\/westcoastsoul.de\/album-review-the-modern-illusion-by-dark-satellite<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Modern Illusion \u2014 \u201cit&#8217;s about the 70&#8217;s California we idolized&#8221;. Two satellites on a collision course. After so many sessions and productions for other artists, it was, of course, bound to happen that&nbsp;Paul Curtiz&nbsp;and&nbsp;Denis Moulin&nbsp;should have their own project. And if there\u2019s one thing to be said for global pandemics, there\u2019s certainly a chapter [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-41","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/41"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=41"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/41\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":338,"href":"https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/41\/revisions\/338"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.astrolaberecords.eu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=41"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}