Drawing us in with a textured drum riff, expanding into a sublime and ethereal guitar soundscape, Uncanny Valley Girls opens Me and My Satellite with the somewhat relatable, situational prose, “You go wherever I go, wherever we go, we go as one, deep sea or to the bathroom, it takes to assume you come along… work shit, we just ignore it, when you’re in orbit it’s all alright, my little satellite..”
There is something deeply human and spiritual about Me and My Satellite which serves as an ode to artist Mike Bissett‘s dog Liza. It is an exploration of unconditional companionship, energetic connection and the mystical bond that can exist between a human and an animal. It’s really a zeitgeist message that the mainstream needs to experience now more than ever, considering what happens to dogs at MBR Acres, and what happens to the wider animal population due to society’s inherent violence towards animals.
We vibe with Mike’s intimate songwriting sensibilities comparative to Elliott Smith, particularly in the way the guitar and vocal sit together with such vulnerability. The simplicity of the story is part of its power. Liza follows Mike from room to room, through the bathroom, through work, through the mundane rituals of everyday existence, and suddenly these ordinary moments feel sacred. There is something beautiful about being witnessed so completely by another living being without judgement or expectation.
We can also imagine Me and My Satellite working beautifully within films and TV shows exploring companionship, grief, healing and the strange emotional worlds we share with animals. There are obvious connections to Marley & Me, Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, A Dog’s Purpose and The Art of Racing in the Rain, while Isle of Dogs, After Life and The Dog House occupy very different spaces but similarly understand the emotional and spiritual importance of our connection with dogs.
Bissett explains, “It came from the early days of dating my girlfriend where the dog would follow me around the flat, going from room to room, circling me like a satellite. I sat down with guitar and wrote the first few lines almost as a joke to make my girlfriend smile and finished it within about 15 minutes.”
Needless to say, Me and My Satellite feels like a beautiful reminder that some of our most profound relationships can arrive without language, expectation or explanation. We have added the. metaphorical and delightful Me and My Satellite to our New Music Spotlight playlist, and our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream the wider discography of Uncanny Valley Girls, including 2 Vexed 2 Tired, and Knight of Cups.