Review Summary: The first band from outer space consolidate their position on Earth with an album full of spaced out space rock with lots of spacey riffs and spacey noises and spacey vibes that makes you feel like you are in space.
The 'First Band from Outer Space' landed in Gothenburg, Sweden in spring of 2002 and decided to make it their earthly base. Maybe this was a rather odd choice when you look at Scandinavian tax rates but nevertheless they made themselves at home and since their arrival they have put out three albums of psychedelic space rock which includes this 2009 release.
These guys are really spacey. I mean even their names leave no doubt as to their extra-terrestrial origin. We have JohanFrom Space on vocals guitars and keyboards, StarFighterCarl on the sticks and SpaceAceFrippe on bass guitar. There are only four tracks on the album but the shortest clocks in at just under ten of our 'Earth' minutes. Apparently on their home planet their perception of time is different to ours and pop-punk hit singles usually last at least eight of our 'Earth' minutes. Anyway, to dispense with this extra-terrestrial frivolity for a moment, what is the actual music like ?
Well, it's pretty damn fine. This is quite an improvement over their last release and the guys sound much more assured in their pursuit of outer spacey joy and happiness. They have tried to fool us into believing they are mere humans with the title 'Turn Left to the Mexican Barbeque' but they are actually referring to the Crab Nebula and that is just some navigational pilot-speak in their native language. Strummed acoustic guitars fade across the speakers in a spacey sort of way with some Pink Floyd-esque keyboard swirls and some chanting multi-tracked vocals. They have employed an Earth-woman to provide some of the vocal work but she is soon phased out (maybe even phasored out, poor thing) and the song takes off with a typically spacey electric guitar riff and some typically spacey wahwah sounds that instill the sense of being in..erm..space. A lot of space rock relies on hypnotic repeating motifs and this is certainly the case on this track but there is enough variation in light and shade to keep your interest. 'Smokin' begins with some proggy laid back guitar work but eventually evolves into a chaotic spacey riffy number that makes you feel like you are..erm..well, in space again. The title track clocks in at 23 'Earth' minutes and demonstrates that the boys have obviously been listening to some terrestrial music like the Doors and Pink Floyd. This is really entertaining stuff actually. The music veers from Manzarek inspired keyboard meanderings to prog inspired riffing and hard rock to quirky 60's psychedelia with some great extended jams. The band explore many avenues of what they perceive to be earthly bound space-rock and in fact there is hardly a dull moment on the entire album.
There isn't anything particularly original about the music on here. It seems that even though we have some extra-terrestrials at large their perception of what constitutes space rock is quite simialir to that of their earthy hosts. However, when it's composed and performed so well and entertains from start to finish that doesn't really matter. Any fans of early Pink Floyd should certainly seek this music out. 'The Guitar Is Mightier Than The Gun' has been available on our planet for a few years now and I can't wait for the next one.
