AUTOMATIC

Automatic began as the Spinouts when Matt Fenton met up with Alex Jarvis in high school in 1987. The two attended Queenscliff High School in Victoria. Their professional career initially included social school gatherings and beach parties. Along with members of Automatic, several other influences graduated with the two, including members of Magic Dirt and Seaweed Gorillas. With their pop/rock style, Automatic strove to move to Melbourne, where their sound would be more widely accepted. After seven years, the band settled on members Fenton, Jarvis, drummer Leigh Marlow, and bassist Rich Taylor. In 1994, the band made its first album, 'Automatic', which was released independently. The album led to much success for the band and produced a new group of listeners. With its punk rock sound, the group signed with the Murmur record label in 1995. Their first release for the label was the EP 'Sister K'. Their single, "Sister K" was engineered by Tom Whitten who earned a nomination at the ARIA Music Awards of 1996 for Engineer of the Year for that and two other releases. "Pump it Up" was engineered by Magoo who earned a nomination in 1999 for the same category for that and one other release. 

Under the guidance of producer Nick Launay, Automatic released their second album, 'Transmitter', in 1997. Launay produced such music legends as PiL, the Idiot Box soundtrack, Slits, and Silverchair and changed the sound of Automatic from pop/rock to a harder, louder sound, which paid off for the group. 'Transmitter' included such rock favorites as "Blown," "Does She Kiss Like You?" "What If...," and "Girl with a Million Minds." According to the bandmembers, the success of Automatic relied heavily upon the diversity of their songs. The group performed everything from hard rock to dance music. Their last recording was the album 'Get Together' and the single ''Psychic Cats'' in 1999.

Members

Matt Fenton (vocals, guitar), Alex Jarvis (guitar), Rich Taylor (bass), Leigh Marlow (drums),
Danny Plant (drums), Stu McFarlane (drums)

SINGLES

It's Like Sound

13 OCT '96

#98

Pump it Up

13 DEC '98

#95

References

Kim Summers

http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/