THE JACKAL AND NINE

Anubian Lights are a spacey electronica band, formed from a core Len Del Rio and Tommy Grenas. They navigate several intersections--space rock, world music (particularly Indian and Arabic), science fiction-derived concepts and effects, ambient, and a tinch of lounge. This EP is longer than many albums, and among my favorites by the band. It features songs from the first album, The Eternal Sky (itself terrific), but given remixes that perk up the beats . . . and thereby earn the witty remix subtitles, a la "Power of Z-PH Mix," etc. A stellar exception to this is the live rendition of "Soul Herder," nearly ten minutes of rolling drumwork and Nik Turner playing evocative, spacey flute and chanting lyrics about Anubis and Osiris and all that. Overall, perhaps not prog in any narrow sense, but certainly prog in its attempt to explore new permutations of electronics, sci-fi, space rock, and world musics. Plus, they have the Hawkwind connection. I have this album on my mp3 player, too, as it makes for a great listen when exercising/running.