FIRST BAND FROM OUTER SPACE

"The Guitar Is Mightier Than The Gun" is the Swedes final record(so far) from 2009 and it's a departure from what they did before this as we get three long tracks with some jamming and improvised sounding material added. They also have added some non-Space Rock styles throughout making this somewhat unique sounding and it doesn't always work which is why I rate "Impressionable Sounds Of The Subsonic" higher. These non-Space Rock styles just seem to just pop up and they are more playful, less serious usually than what went before.

A five piece with two vocal guests and no less than four of the band members add synths to this recording besides their main instruments. The singer/guitarist adds FX as well and he will go on to play with ORESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE at some point. A talented man. "Demons & Haze" opens with drum rolls galore before it kicks into an uptempo HAWKWIND-like groove. A change after a minute with pulsating keys and more as vocals arrive. A spacey calm before 3 minutes as it changes completely again. Man when the vocals arrive it's so anthemic. Best part of the song reminding me of their previous album. Vocals step aside before 5 1/2 minutes as the guitar solos on and on until after 7 minutes.

"Turn Left To The Mexican Barbeque" is such a funny title coming from a band out of Sweden. Very trippy with strummed guitar, a psychedelic haze really. Vocals after a minute. Backing vocals as well including one of the talented female guests. Nice picked guitar solo 2 minutes in. It turns more intense before 3 minutes. before easing up a minute later with more of that picked guitar. It kicks in hard after 4 1/2 minutes with some killer guitar. So many twists and turns and this will continue. I like that they included the excited talk of the band members when the song ends. The title track is over 23 minutes long and like the last track it's an adventure but maybe the one that works the least because it's on this one that the different styles are added which don't always work. Still what a track, I mean all over the place yet we get repeated themes trying to keep it all together. A lot of highs on this track.

I'd love if these guys got back together and did another one like "Impressionable Sounds Of The Subsonic". This release might not equal that one but man this is a keeper that I'm very glad I own.

The opener and shortest song of the disc, "Demons & Haze", is simply one of the best compositions from the Swedishs. Best passage of the record, it possesses a powerful space stoner rock introduction with an unusual rhythm and vocal flow. Bombastic! The rest of the song is slower and features spacey keyboards reminiscent of Tim Blake. "Turn Left to the Mexican Barbeque" starts with a calm acoustic guitar, to continue with a heavy space metal jam with female vocals. Enjoyable, but we already heard better from FIRST BAND FROM OUTER SPACE. The 23 minutes title track is a little unusual for the band. Not entirely space rock or stoner, this piece alternates soft floyd-ish, psychedelic improvised and joyful cheesy moments. The middle part is too long and the music doesn't seem to go anywhere. Finally, the overall result is average.

The CD edition includes a 16 minutes long bonus track, "Smokin". This is rather a patchwork of different extracts than a structured composition. The song contains long calm passages, nervous moments, short middle-eastern melodies and HAWKWIND-esque touches. Not essential and also a bit lacking musical direction, but more convincing than the title track.

"The Guitar Is Mightier Than the Gun" is a little unequal and incoherent. The band wanted to evolve and emancipate from their initial stoner / HAWKWIND roots by proposing something new, which is a good thing. However, these novel elements are, on the one hand, stretched space rock improvisation (which has been done before in the 70's), and, on the other hand, soapy symphonic passages. The melodies are also less present than on their great previous album "Impressionable Sounds Of The Subsonic". The only remarkable track of the record is the opener "Demons & Haze".

Enjoyable if you like space rock and HAWKWIND, but not the best place to discover the band.

'Impressionable Sounds Of The Subsonic' is the second of First Band From Outer Space's three albums. The style doesn't deviate much from the previous work but this time around they really nailed it, with great songs, soaring rock and all the oscillating synths, dreamy vocals, psychic flutes and fuzzy organs you'd wish.

I find it puzzling that everyone calls this a 'heavier' Hawkwind (I always thought Hawkwind was pretty heavy too), and the sound and power that FBFOS develops are almost exactly the same as you will find on any random Hawkwind live gig from the 2000s. Metal I don't hear at all, but you could say 'Impressionable sounds' is just a bit wilder then Hawkwind, with some extra raw power from the Stooges, which makes them sometimes sound like early Monster Magnet.

I've recently found a reborn interest in Stoner due to releases from Motorpsycho, Hypnos 69 and to a certain extent Astra, First Band From Outer Space fits nicely into that list of bands that found a way to marry vintage Progressive Rock to the retro alt-rock of bands like Kyuss and Monster Magnet.

First Band From Outer Space is blessed with the spirit of Hawkwind, with hazy vocal melodies and all the oscillating synths and bleeps you need for creating upbeat retro rock smothered in thick floating spacey sounds!

Their previous album basically came across as a heavier version of British institution Hawkwind, blending in some nice Sabbath-inspired moods. This time around only fragments and a few select segments remain of the former, while the latter has been almost completely eradicated from their sound.

They have traded this with a stronger emphasis on improvisation and light, vintage psychedelic sounds. As well as generally more elaborate constructions. The end result is a CD residing somewhere in between Pink Floyd, Oresund Space Collective and Hawkwind in overall sound, with a few passing nods in the direction of early 70's improvisational based psychedelic rock acts. Mostly good but at least on this occasion not quite managing to create as intriguing moods as on their previous efforts. A good album though, and one that fans of Oresund Space Collective in particular should take notice of.

As should be expected, the long title track makes out the centerpiece - a spacey intro lets you feel like an astronaut gliding through space and time supported by an extraterrestrial gripping synth work. A varied trip furthermore leads you through short heavier rocking storms provided with rare vocal presence ... as well as long grooving interplanetary voyages with excellently corresponding instruments in the vein of Oresund Space Collective. Finally you wonder how time flies - 23 minutes are vanishing in a snap!

Decorated with nice female/male vocals Turn Left To The Mexican Barbeque at first is made like Greateful Dead and Allman Brothers Band are struggling for supremacy - but this doesn't stay for long of course because they later fade into a fantastic relaxed flow which will please every space rock fan. The melodic Demons and Haze even has some singing along moments - sounds very retro - like a leftover from the 70's - including a gorgeous hallucinogenic finale.

Smokin' is a bonus track especially reserved for the CD production and a strong argument to avoid the LP version - no reason to miss this one (sorry to you vinyl aficionados). This is another example for an unexhaustible reservoir of inspiration. Again it's the variety which impresses - weird synth contributions - a jazzy groove - playful guitars. American west coast psychedelia competes with a Hawkwind adapted mood, also folksy impressions and hallucinatory floating parts. This new FBFOS output is a reliable addition to your space rock collection.

(Transubstans)

This was originally released on a limited edition vinyl LP on the Kommun2 label earlier this year in 300 copies. I think it is still possible to find a copy around but it is getting scarce now. Anyway, this is the digital version and it also features an extra 16 min track called "Smokin'". This was actually my favourite release in 2009 and it is nice to see it released in a nice digipack for the fans that are not into or can't play vinyl records. The opening track, "Demons and Haze" is an amazing composition with great dynamics. A real progressive space rock classic. "Turn left to the Mexican BBQ", is more instrumental but also very cool with male-female vocals and acoustic guitar to start before taking a turn left. The band still has that Hawkwind influence but they really do space rock their own way. The long 20 min title track is simply amazing. Very dynamic and it has so many parts. Cool stuff. "Smokin'", the new addition here, has a nice rolling bass line and very spacey vocal style in the beginning as the track travels forward and Johan lays down some awesome lead guitar. The gypsy music part is super cool and really catches you by surprise. A great evolving track and cool addition to the music from the vinyl LP. For all space rock fans.

Reviewing the debut album of this bunch from space I teased them a little for excessive attachment to hawkwindy view of space- rock. Now it’s more progressive and more hard-rocky (once again bow from Swedish classic – November, but not only this). Also more members of the band – on the cover seven persons were specified. It’s not so unequivocally hawkwindlike, or at least not as it was on “We’re in It…”. Or it’s even more. I don’t know really… It’s felly secondary, but it’s bloody showy album and it’s perfect to listen to. They know what they want, and apparently it’s what should be. Amen.

Previously this was pretty rough, motoric playing, like on the earliest records of Brock and his respectable company. Much more electronic appears. Not only those effects cruddy like “whoosh”, “swish” like formerly, now there are few people, who normally play on various synthetizers. Rock energy of the debut was somewhat smoothed by much ampler sound and more complex arrangements. Music is more subtle and varied. All songs are connected and it’s creating some kind of musical entireness. Just like Hawkwind FBFOS can (already) connect on one record rocky fragments with electronic impressions, sometimes even in one composition. And is doing it so skillfully and fluently, that there is no feel of artificiality of such connection.

Better arrangements, better sound, better produced, musically better – this album is better than debut one.

In colors of the same factory appears Oresund Space Collective and it seems that some osmosis between those two bands is happening. FBFOS is still a band on property. But if it will still be as it is, Brock will calmly go on well-earned retirement, ‘cause he probably didn’t brought up any successors.

A step forward from their previous album (which is good in its own right), "Impressionable Sounds of the Subsonic" has everything you could ever want: killer bass lines, screaming guitars, spacey synth, awesome percussion, and sublime vocals in English and Swedish. And, as icing on the cake, there's some really nice flute work, both mellow and raging.

So, for those out there who want to be transported to all corners of the (apparently square?) universe, go out and buy this essential space rock release!

"Novaja Zemelja" opens with eerie sounds before spacey synths and drums come in. All of a sudden we can hear a baby crying. The song kicks in with a melody before 4 minutes. A nice chunky bass adds to the great heavy sound. Flute 7 minutes in as the song blends into "Utan Att Veta". These next three songs are killers ! I really like the heavy, spacey opening of this song with flute,heavy drums, organ and guitar. Some ripping guitar follows. Vocals arrive for the first time on the album in Swedish 2 minutes in. The drumming is outstanding on this track. "Mean Spacemachine" really reminds me of HAWKWIND. It's an uptempo tune that kicks ass. Vocals are in English and I couldn't turn this one up loud enough. It ends with some haunting flute and blends into "Impressionable Sounds Of the Subsonic".The flute continues as a guitar is strummed. What a moving flute solo as light drums are played and English vocals are sung. 3 1/2 minutes in the song gets heavy as drums, bass and organ create a full sound. It sounds awesome 6 minutes in, we're cooking now ! The song ends with some good outbursts of drums as the spacey sounds conclude the song.

"To Be Seen As the Underdog" is atmospheric as the wind blows. Vocals are almost spoken as guitar is gently strummed. Nice. Percussion comes in as song picks up in tempo breifly. "Grona Hander" opens with heavy drums and bass with synths. Flute comes in followed by a guitar solo. Swedish vocals and great drumming are replaced by a long interlude of percussion and spacey synths. Bass and guitar 10 minutes in. What a fantastic ending to this song. "Todo Pasara" has a powerful intro with a lot of bottom end as flute plays over top. The vocals come in and this is where they (vocals) sound the best on this whole entire album. Organ, flute, drums, percussion and guitar all get their turn in this great tune. "Sagarmatha 8848" is the final song. It opens in a powerful way with organ. It turns spacey 2 minutes in with flute.The melody returns 4 minutes in.The last 2 minutes are probably the only two average minutes on this album.

This is without a doubt one of the best Psychedelic / Spacerock albums i've heard so far. It fits my tastes perfectly.