THE ASTRONAUT DISMANTLES HAL

Amplifier

Psychedelic/Space Rock

3.88 | 65 ratings

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obiter
Prog Reviewer

I'm green with envy ... over the last month Amplifier have been touring with Porcupine Tree in England.....

So Mr Grumpy sits down to review Amplifier's second (ish) album (40 mins would make a decent LP back when I wer't lad). Now I was effusive over the debut album which I found very apporachable and jsut great. However, I reckon this offering is not quite so easy to get to know. That's not a bad thing. When I went to university in engladn I found the English quite hard to get to know but if you persevered you were generally well rewarded by solid and complex if somewhat reticent chaps.So it is with this album.

Having been at the Hacienda in the late 80s and early 90s, this band is not only far better than the trendy and iconic Charlatans, Happy Mondays and Inspiral Carpets but they've got some serious class about them.

I've decided its a mood thing. Stone cold and the vibe is OK, but a couple of friends round & a bottle of Esporao Reserva vinho tinto ... nothing short of marvellous. Continuum , I'm sorry Que sera sera ... what with Chelsea & Man U about to cross swords.

Into the Space Age requires a nice clean Chablis. Gorgeous. A disarming sound belies a deep rocky strength. Marica relaxes nah it should be prescribed as a harmless soporific ... mmmm nice. No side-effects but could be withdrawals symptoms. I love this.

Toni Iommi is back in ..The Brain Room... where's FX???

OK Everyday Combat just does not float my boat. Don't get it. Live Human is the culmination of the album but for me not one to write home about. THe wee acoustic number at the end is eye opening. So why is it not on the album. Why so sneaky?

UP to the last two tracks this was a definite 5 but it sort of slid away so it's a 4 for me, although For Marcia almost deserves a 5 on its own..

obiter | 4/5 | 2007-5-16

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