Review: Stupid Cosmonaut - Astral Transmissions

Back in May I reviewed the 'Abstract Concepts' EP by Bury based duo Stupid Cosmonaut. The good news is that there is a new album looming large on the horizon, landing end of September. Like 'Abstract Concepts' it is heavy on the electronics and drone, although, this time around, much darker. To give some idea of what motivates the band and inspires the music they make, the album is accompanied on Bandcamp by a quote from Carl Sagan..."We have arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster. We might get away with it for a while, but sooner or later this combustible mixture of ignorance and power is going to blow up in our faces"....heavy!

The album consists of 5 Astral Transmissions (AT) numbered 1-5, each with a chemical 'subtitle'. For ease, each track will be reviewed just using the chemical title. First up is Fermium (a synthetic element, chemical Fm and atomic number 100 fact fans). starting with some spoken word (taken from from the actual Apollo 13 mission, when an oxygen tank exploded and they had to abort the mission to land on the moon, and make their way back to earth) laid over static and drone before a thumping beat hits in and straight away we are in a territory somewhere between Cabaret Voltaire's dada electronic experimentation and the dark, pulsing techno of Perc or Ancient Methods. The Apollo 13 spoken word runs continuously through the track, as does the piercing drone and as for that beat.....it never stops....ceaseless and unremitting. A few electronic 'squelches' and swirls are added but, bearing in mind from where the sample is taken, it all has a bleak, dystopian feel to it. I must admit I've fallen totally in love with this track....it has soundtracked everything from driving, dog-walking to just chilling....it may be dark but is highly infectious and damned enjoyable! 'Ununtrium' (another synthetic element, symbol Uut, atomic number 113 - who says music can't be educational) begins with a squeal of electronics before another sample kicks in and an oscillating drone that settles into a rhythm similar to a heartbeat before warping out of shape again. The track does not have the regular structure of 'Fermium', things can get a bit discordant and abstract, but it never becomes impenetrable. It has more than a touch of musique concrete about it, along with the aural terrorist approach favoured by early Throbbing Gristle. The audio sample is taken from an investigation into the disastrous test flight for Apollo 11 which killed all three crew on board in a fire. The fact that the samples appear to 'fit' the music is admirable and seems to give the album some context. 'Hassium' (chemical element with symbol Hs and atomic number 108) has the now obligatory spoken word sample (this time the Apollo 1 mission and the first landing on the moon by mankind) and what sounds like the beginnings of a melody under some electronic chatter. The drones on this have a kosmische feel about them, very Tangerine Dream morphing into Vangelis' 'Bladerunner' soundtrack...in fact you can imagine that stunning, dystopian opening shot from the film whilst listening. The pulsing drones are hypnotic and ever changing, making the track seem alive and breathing....another standout track. 'Curium' (a transuranic radioactive chemical element with symbol Cm and atomic number 96) makes use of what sounds like vintage analog synths which chimes well with the sample of a launch countdown (This is from Apollo 9 launch , one of the first manned missions into space). There is a definite melody on this track, and again it sounds very retro and very experimental seventies - proving that these guys know their music history and freely acknowledge inspirations. 'Dubnium' (symbol Db and atomic number 105) brings things to a close and we go full circle, both with the sample, again taken from the Apollo 13 mission, and the structure. This track has a definite beat, in fact it borders on full-on techno, albeit with some glorious drone. About 3 mins from the end the beat totally drops out leaving just the drone and the sample before it all comes back together again.

The eagle-eyed reader may have noticed a few things here; the samples are all taken from various space missions - some successful, some disastrous, and the chemicals are all synthetic and so not found anywhere in nature and these, taken with Sagans's quote, all add up to a pretty grim message (my apologies to the lads if I'm way off the mark here!) - is man overreaching himself? Technologically advancing but intellectually treading water - creating but not learning.

Musically, this is right up my boulevard.....intelligent, thought-provoking and challenging. The guys have kept things the right side of accessible whilst still retaining an experimental edge. What's interesting, and somewhat satisfying, is that even in the space of 2 releases, a musical evolution can be seen which bodes exceptionally well for the future....these guys will grow and grow and, hopefully, become real torch-bearers for experimental/drone electronica. 'Astral Transmissions' will be available as of September 30th, but pre-orders are up on the Bandcamp page here. Format-wise it is available as a download, limited edition cassette (hand-linoprint printed and signed by the band) and limited edition CD.