published: 8 /
8 /
2007
Label:
They Came From The Stars I Saw Them
Format: CD
Eccentric, offbeat mish-mash of funk, space rock and krautrock influences on five-years-in-the-making curiosity from London-based experimentalists They Came From The Stars I Saw Them
Review
Freakishly disturbing, cheese binge-induced dreams. They Came From The Stars I Saw Them. No contest - nothing’s got a chance of out-weirding them. Madder than a mad March hare in an ‘I’m mad, me’ T-shirt, this ‘lost’, five-years-in- the-making curiosity sees the Stars plundering a deranged car boot sale of influences – Prince, space boogie, krautrock – and garlanding them like novelty Christmas lights around reassuringly plummy Michael Palin-ish spoken word vocals.
Imagine a Home Counties ballroom dancing instructor enunciating a Sesame Street-style alphabet song ('Speak And Spell'), having a panic attack during a demented brass band rehearsal ('It’s Always Boomtime, Part One') and indulging in a psychedelic drugs episode while free jazz rages in the background ('It’s Always Boomtime, Part Two)'. You’ve got the idea.
Small-minded types will drag out the old monkeys and typewriters argument with regard to their eclectic approach. Anally retentive music collectors will spend head-scratching weeks working out which CD collection category to file this in, then frisbee their copy across the room in frustration. You, if you’ve got any sense, will play it with gratitude that you can impress your friends with your ‘experimental’ music tastes without having to subject yourselves (or them) to Lou Reed’s ear-shredding opus Metal Machine Music.
Track Listing:-
1
An Angel's Help
2
Speak 'N' Spell
3
Signals
4
(It's Always) Boomtime, Part One
5
(It's Always) Boomtime Part Two
6
Astro National Anthem