Astro Sonic - Come Closer and I'll Tell You
by Adrian Janes
published: 28 / 1 / 2014

Label:
Hubro
Format: CD
intro
Improvised but under-developed debut album from experimental Norwegian synth trio, Astro Sonic
Astro Sonic are a Norwegian trio who have created an album largely produced from improvisation. Unfortunately, much of it sounds like the first steps towards pieces of music, rather than something ready for the public. Gard Nilssen’s drums on ‘The Electric Airbag Police’ set up a steady beat for some inventive bass from Rune Nergaard (the pair have already been playing together for over a decade in the band Bushman’s Revenge) and the keyboard washes of Erlend Slettevoll. The trio settle into a perfectly acceptable head nodding groove, embellished with various electronic blurts, but by the end, rather than feeling that you have completed a musical journey, the lack of development makes it seem like everyone has just grown weary and lost interest. A number of the tracks, like ‘437.7 Days’ and ‘Magnavox’, are especially unrealised, the first largely based around a cello-like grinding drone, the second a mess of freak-out drums, bass and keyboard. Their only virtue is their merciful brevity. Other pieces seem to have more direction, but still fail to attain much beyond creating the basis for something substantial. ‘Orbiter’ begins with a percussive pulse, over which limpid keyboard notes are picked out. An organ drone and random explosive sounds are introduced, the whole adding up to a slightly subverted, meandering prettiness. ‘Lander’ is founded on a tom tom-heavy rhythm pattern and jagged keyboard chords, which are gradually replaced by a woodwind tone. It seems to have some plangent promise, but in this case fades out all too soon. ‘Shoal’ has a simple percussive rhythm, beneath keyboard splashes and other spurts of sound, joined once again by the grinding cello. Some pleasant phrases are chanced upon, but this piece (as with most of the others) falls between being something with some vitality and intrusive muzak - perhaps a new genre, annoying ambient. Penultimate piece ‘Analogue Karma‘, based around the repetition of a jazzy phrase from Slettevol’s Fender Rhodes, builds slowly with Nilssen’s increasingly free drums, and is a little reminiscent of a Jan Hammer-led Mahavishnu Orchestra piece. ‘Fairy Queen’ brings the album to a close, slow, reverbed drums combined with a chilly discordant keyboard. Even more than on ‘Analogue Karma’,there is a sense of mounting tension before the drums drop away entirely and we are left with a few isolated, icy notes. Too much of this album feels like the musical equivalent of rough sketches. It seems to me that to rely so heavily on improvisation, and regard the results as fit for release, can only be justified if those results are supremely inspire. Here there are mainly moments and phrases, seeds not flowers. Yet as if the bulk of the album was in preparation for its concluding tracks, these do achieve some real cohesion and emotional impact. The rest only hints from time to time at the same standard.
Track Listing:-
1 Retrodynamics2 Orbiter
3 The Electric Airbag Police
4 437,7 Days
5 Magnavox
6 The Shell Falls Rapidly and Splashes
7 Lander
8 Shoal
9 No Satisfaction At All
10 Analogue Karma
11 Fairy Queen
Band Links:-
https://www.facebook.com/AstroSonichttp://hubromusic.com/
Label Links:-
http://hubromusic.com/https://www.facebook.com/Hubromusic-162608820416331/
https://twitter.com/HUBROMUSIC
soundcloud
most viewed articles
current edition
John McKay - InterviewCathode Ray - Interview
Robert Forster - Interview
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Spear Of Destiny - Interview
Fiona Hutchings - Interview
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Chris Wade - Interview
Shrag - Huw Stephens Session 08.12.10 and Marc Riley Session 21.03.12
Brian Wilson - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
most viewed reviews
current edition
Peter Doolan - I Am a Tree Rooted to the Spot and a Snake Moves Around Me,in a CircleVinny Peculiar - Things Too Long Left Unsaid
Garbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Vultures - Liz Kershaw Session 16.06.88
John McKay - Sixes and #Sevens
Little Simz - Lotus
HAIM - I Quit
Pulp - More
Lapsley - I'm a Hurricane, I'm a Woman In Love
Billy Nomates - Metalhorse
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart