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IMPRESSIONABLE SOUNDS OF THE SUBSONIC

First Band From Outer Space

Psychedelic/Space Rock


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First Band From Outer Space Impressionable Sounds Of The Subsonic album cover
4.10 | 70 ratings | 8 reviews | 27% 5 stars

Excellent addition to any
prog rock music collection

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Studio Album, released in 2006

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Novaja Xemelja (8:22)
2. Utan Att Veta (8:02)
3. Mean Spacemachine (5:51)
4. Impressionable Sounds Of The Subsonic (10:06)
5. To Be Seen As The Underdog (5:44)
6. Gröna Händer (13:22)
7. Todo Pasara (9:46)
8. Sagarmatha 8848 (7:16)

Total: 68:34

Line-up / Musicians

- Johan Dahlström / lead vocals, guitars, synth
- Fredrik "Frippe" Ringqvist / bass, synth, percussion, vocals
- Carl Andersson / drums, percussion, vocals

With:
- MoonBeamJosue / flutes, vocals
- AstroRille / vocals
- SpaceBeardEmil / percussion
- ErkiOnMars / organ

Releases information

Artwork: Fredrik "Frippe" Ringqvist and Micke Samuelsson

CD Transubstans Records ‎- TRANS019 (2006, Sweden)

Thanks to Joolz for the addition
and to Quinino for the last updates
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FIRST BAND FROM OUTER SPACE Impressionable Sounds Of The Subsonic ratings distribution


4.10
(70 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(27%)
27%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(44%)
44%
Good, but non-essential (21%)
21%
Collectors/fans only (3%)
3%
Poor. Only for completionists (4%)
4%

FIRST BAND FROM OUTER SPACE Impressionable Sounds Of The Subsonic reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Joolz
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars The New Kings On The Block?

This, the second release from the enigmatic Swedish space rockers, is a logical development from their debut and a clear improvement. While still persuing the same fundamental mix of old school heavy metal riffing, trance inducing space-rock jams and 'cosmic oscillator' synth noises, Impressionable Sounds Of The Subsonic displays greater use of textures and 'colours' from a wider sound palette, tempering the heaviness by concentrating on stronger arrangements. The impressive result is more assured and adventurous, perhaps hinting of even greater things to come.

Analogue synth bleeps & farts and extended warbly bits continue to pepper the soundscape, but the most significant change comes from the addition of flutes as a major force, courtesy of new space cadet MoonBeamJosué [appeared on one track of the debut], an accomplished musician whose style varies from classically light and smooth to aggressively earthy [á la Ian Anderson] as appropriate to context, providing a cosmic 'missing link' needed to propel the band into space-rock warp speed.

Also added this time around are some unobtrusive haunting female backing harmonies, very effectively set back in the mix. Lead singer JohanFromSpace makes extensive use of multi-tracking to produce a thicker vocal in a very muscular style well suited to the band's repertoire, lighter and more 'musical' than his earlier James Hetfield phase. Another key element is an unusual use of guitars whereby bass and lead contribute equally and interchangeably to the band's dense wall of sound.

It's nearly all good, so highlights are hard to single out, but my favourites are also the two longest. Title track Impressionable Sounds Of The Subsonic seemlessly progresses through several phases, from brilliant lilting mid-paced electro-acoustic song awash with gorgeous flute, then into a heavier phase led by organ and flute, building all the time until lifting off for the stars in an ecstatic space-jam, yet ending in whale-talk and ambient discord. Gröna Händer, is 13 heavenly minutes of heavy riffing, techno beats and a lengthy full-on sweaty head-banging turn-up-the-volume mind-warping Brocktastic goose-pimply space-jam-thrash as good as anything the mighty Hawkman ever did!

Faults? My only observations would be that packaging is minimal and uninformative [their website doesn't help much!], and at 68 minutes the album is too long, with the final two tracks failing to reach the standards set earlier - had they been culled, the album would have been an ideal length and ended on a big high.

Comparisons with classic Hawkwind are inevitable as First Band From Outer Space occupy a similar position in the space-rock cannon. But while Brock's babies have grown up, these guys have gone back to basics, back to the heady days of the Space Ritual and developed their own 21st century brand from its essential elements. It is an exciting and winning formula.

The spirit of Hawkwind lives on! Welcome to the future .....

Review by Windhawk
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Swedish boys "First Band From Outer Space" really impress on this release.

Musically Hawkwind is the obvious reference, as song structures, sound effects and grooves are somewhat similar to the good old english spacers. But FBFOS are heavier, if you can imagine Tony Iommi playing in an early 70's incarnation of Hawkwind you're pretty close to the basic sound of this record.

Heavy Metal Space Rock may be a good description.

Check out the tracks "Utan Att Veta" and "Gröna Hënder" to get a good feel of what this album is all about.

Review by Modrigue
PROG REVIEWER
5 stars Impressive hawks of the stoner rock

The Swedish band has quite evolved from their first release, and it shows. The line up has grown, the music is less raw, less chaotic, more structured and displays a larger variety of instruments. Vocals are more fluent and more spacey, due in part to the addition of a female vocalist. "Impressionable Sounds of the Subsonic" features top-notch stoner and space rock. A mindblowing cosmic journey exploring all types of planets!

As in "We're Only in it for the Spacerock", the album begins by setting up the atmosphere with synthesizers, guitars, drums and flute. The introduction sounds like a heavier version of ELOY. It goes on with "Utan Att Veta" which is maybe one of the best stoner tunes of the century. Powerful and freaky! The whole disc rocks and transports you in another universe far far away. From efficient heavy stoned riffs to relaxing moments through psychedelic sounds and acoustic pieces, from trance rhythms to bongos, through beautiful and angry flute playing, "Impressionable Sounds of the Subsonic" has nearly all! One can hear by moments influences from HYDRIA SPACEFOLK and PORCUPINE TREE. The disc finishes in an empty region of cosmos with an Hawaiian guitar jam.

One of the best space and stoner rock release. If you like 70s' HAWKWIND, HYDRIA SPACEFOLK, MONSTER MAGNET and PINK FLOYD, this album is for you!

Review by Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
4 stars 4.5 stars. First of all thankyou Joolz for bringing this band to my attention. When I heard that they were a combination of Psychedelic / Spacerock and Metal, two of my favourite genres I couldn't wait to hear them. Lets just say I wasn't disappointed. Three of the band members play percussion and the drummer is simply incredible, while vocals are in both Swedish and English.The flute is what really sets these guys apart along with the heaviness of course.

"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.

Review by Bonnek
SPECIAL COLLABORATOR Honorary Collaborator
4 stars Great feel-good up-tempo space-rock epicness from Sweden.

'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!

Latest members reviews

4 stars New record of FBFOS? So fast? No, impossible. Surely there are some outtakes, or concert. Yet it’s a new album with completely new material. Seems to me that FBOFOS adopted from artist of seventies not only a style, but also frequency of bringing out new records. Reviewing the debut alb ... (read more)

Report this review (#137888) | Posted by WOJTEKK | Wednesday, September 12, 2007 | Review Permanlink

5 stars An incredible 2nd album from these Swedes. Filled with HAWKWINDIAN influences, but adding a heavier approach in their sound. Tons of spaced out synth sounds and really hard hitting guitar melodies. The members are damn skillfulled, and this is one of my top albums of 2007 ! ... (read more)

Report this review (#135383) | Posted by JohnnyC | Wednesday, August 29, 2007 | Review Permanlink

4 stars If you're not a fan of space rock, substitute my 4 stars for 3. If you are a fan, take my rating, bump it up to 5, and put this at the top of your to-buy list. Or, option three, if you're a Hawkwind fan, stop whatever you're doing - leave the iron on, forget your mother at the dentist, everythi ... (read more)

Report this review (#135273) | Posted by Pawned Heart | Tuesday, August 28, 2007 | Review Permanlink

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