ALPHA CENTAURI

A major step forwards from their debut, Alpha Centauri still shows a strong influence from Saucerful of Secrets-era Pink Floyd, but the band's own unique character is beginning to show. This is especially apparent in the structure of the album; the two tracks on the first side are a refinement of their previous approach, in which full band instrumentation is deployed (including some wonderful flute work on Comas Sola) with synthesisers used mainly to provide background texture, whilst on the epic title track the opposite approach is used - there, the synthesisers are truly the stars of the show, whilst the other instruments add flavour here and there but are ultimately sidelined.

Whilst the first half of the album fulfils the potential shown by the band's past, the second half outlines an ambitious vision of the band's future, which would be followed up on the excellent Zeit. So, a transitional album, but an excellent one nonetheless. Four stars.