PLANETS IN THE WIRES

Another excellent album from these UK space cadets.These two tracks were recorded in 2001 about a month apart and in two different cities, but they have the same vibe and flavour.This was actually the first non-cdr release on their own label. Once again like a lot of their earlier material we get plenty of drifting and spacey music with mellotron and guitar helping out.

"Planets In Wires" opens with spacey sounds that float in and out. A calm after 2 1/2 minutes as sparse sounds quietly pulse and blow. Other sounds also come and go. A change after 10 minutes as wind chime-like sounds and keys come in as it stays spacey. Mellotron after 14 minutes. Sparse piano after 15 minutes. Cymbals 17 1/2 minutes in as the tempo picks up. Guitar before 19 minutes. So good. Mellotron joins in as well and it turns spacey late as the guitar backs off.

"Echoes" is the 44 1/2 minute closer. It's mellow with spacey sounds to start as they drift slowly along. Eerie sounds after 3 minutes. It turns intense 10 minutes in as it gets fuller and louder including drums. Guitar before 11 1/2 minutes. Nice.The guitar leaves then returns soloing before 18 minutes. It settles back some before 22 minutes. Mellotron 26 minutes in as we get this deep atmospheric sound that hovers over the soundscape. Spacey sounds then start to come and go and it's haunting. It settles with sporadic sounds including keys after 31 minutes. Mellotron before 34 1/2 minutes as the sound swells. Haunting winds at 37 minutes followed by beautiful sounds after 38 1/2 minutes to the end including mellotron.

I love this stuff with that spacey atmosphere and mellotron filling the soundscapes. A solid 4 stars.