Member:
Windhawk
(Profile)
(All Album Reviews by Windhawk)
Date:
6/3/2007
Format:
CD (Album)
(originally written for www.prog4you.com)
When I received this CD, I wondered "What the f--- is this all about?" A cheesy sounding band name, even more cheesy sounding pseudonyms, and songs with English, Swedish and Spanish titles. Is someone doing a Spinal Tap of space rock or something? And to answer that last question immediately - no, it's not a Spinal Tap kinda thing. As to the first question...
What we have here, is an album full of space rock. Space rock with a strong feel of the early 70's. The spacey sound effects and lengthy jams obviously means that a Hawkwind reference is needed, the heavy guitar heard throughout this record warrants a reference to early Black Sabbath and, to some extent, to stoner rock. And the flute used throughout the record makes it easy to drop names like Jethro Tull and Camel as well. And these outer space dudes knows what was hot in the hard rock and space rock circles 30-35 years ago, on close listening you'll be able to hear elements (and a couple of homages as well) to several other artists from the early 70's.
But the main reference point for this record is Hawkwind, more due to style and structure than due to the music itself and with some important differences. The most obvious difference being that while Hawkwinds music most often sounds like it's filtered through thick smoke screens of dubious origins, FBFOS's music sound more planned, structured and sober. And FBFOS has managed to do something that Hawkwind rarely has managed - to record an album with no weak tracks.
The only track being a tad weaker than the rest is "Mean Spacemachine", as the first couple of minutes here doesn't quite gel. But then even this tune suddenly gels, ending with a couple of minutes of pure space rock genius.
Personally, I have marked two tracks as better than the rest here. "Utan att veta", a loud and hard track with lots of subtleties and details in the soundscape, good mood and sound changes throughout the song and some excellent flute work. "Gröna Händer" is the other highlight, 13 minutes plus of space rock spiced with Sabbath guitars, that suddenly spirals off into a lengthy techno/ambient section before going back to the Sabbathy stoner rock; and then ending in a more ambient mood.
The rest of the tracks here are very good as well, with lengthy guitar and synth jams with swirling sounds and spacey flutes filling out the soundscapes, as well as more ambient moods being given space (sic) at times; the record actually starts with a lengthy ambient mood that is revisited on the last track on the album.
Obviously, this is not music for all and sundry. But for those of you that like harder edged space rock and don't mind a 70's sound to the music, this record should be added to your music collection ASAP.
Rating: 85/100
Member:
Rune Black Wings
(Profile)
(All Album Reviews by Rune Black Wings)
Date:
8/18/2007
Format:
CD (Album)
From the same musical universe that spawned Hawkwind, Monster Magnet, Orange Goblin and Ozric Tentacles comes The First Band From Outer Space! Stoner fans REJOICE! This is one awesome album! Ozrics meet Nebula sound! Lots of space sound effects layered into surreal flute, powerful guitars and heavy, clean vocals like a musical lysergic napoleon. Warning-some lyrics are in Swedish, so be prepared to get strange looks from your Five For Fighting fanboy co-workers and friends. It's all good, I can't pick one song out because they are just all kickass! I don't know why more isn't heard from this band in the stoner music scene, but you won't be disappointed if you are looking for new bands to sate your space rock fix.
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