ATTACK OF THE MARTIANS

Science fiction has always been a welcome and approprite theme for concept albums in progressive rock. The two forms just seem to marry well and suit each other. That's one of the great things about this band's self-produced debut; a wild and wacky homage to the classic sci-fi films of the 1950s and 60s. Then of course there's the music, which is a syn-phonic lover's fantasy come to life.

Eccentric Orbit is the Massachusetts quartet of monster bassist Bill Noland, his more than able wife Madeleine on wind-controlled synths, powerful drummer Mark Cella and the solid Derek Roebuck on keys, and a more wonderful blend of fun and musicianship I do not know of. The players don't appologize for their serious take on the absurdly space-age, and play with glee the five cuts like a B movie score raised to glory. 'Star Power' sets the eerie tone with an ancient-sounding mellotron sample leading to Bill Noland's pounding bass line. 'Sputnik' continues the impending attack with foreboding organs... and the invasion begins-- saucers appear in the sky and start blasting buildings, people are running for their lives, oh the humanity! Then, silence. They have landed and it'll be no time before there are martians everywhere and the world is theirs. The three-part title track rocks symphonic and both reminds of and rivals ELP's 'Tarkus'. Drama, chops, imagination, this band has it all and the music stays buoyant throughout this CD. 'Forbidden Planet', a four-part extravaganza based on the seminal 1956 film, takes us through psycho-space, Floydian meanderings and a look inside the culture of the Krell with great melodies and stellar synth work from Madeleine Noland. A final showdown with 'The Enemy of My Enemy' wraps things up and reprises the main theme. Lavish in musical content and unnerving in tone but without the blackness or depressive nature of doom music, this was one of the best releases of 2004 and is the kind of little treasure that may disappear someday. So look to the skies and if you see something strange, put this record on.