SPACE INVADERS

Space Invaders is a German space rock group with members of Electric Orange. Dreadnaught is actually their third album, but their first studio. This album sports a rather cool cover, I really dig those balloons and airships in the sky. If they had connections with the likes of Mani Neumeier of Guru Guru and Nik Turner, you can sorta guess where they're coming from. This is basically what I consider stoner space rock. If Black Sabbath is an influence on doom metal (the metal cousin of stoner rock), then Hawkwind is an influence on this brand of stoner space rock. Think of an instrumental more jamming version of Hawkwind and then you're not too far off. I also notice elements of Krautrock like Ash Ra Tempel, Can, Amon Duul II, even a bit of Guru Guru, which isn't too surprising given Space Invaders hails from Germany. The music is very much dominated by guitar, bass, and drums, with synthesizers, and even a little Mellotron. These guys really get on a roll, but this is the kind of music that I really can't fish out a favorite, because this album is packed with great stuff. Really well worth if for fans of space rock, especially if you like Electric Moon, Hawkwind, or perhaps those other groups I just mentioned.

SPACE INVADERS are a German Space Rock band and this is their first official studio album although they have already released a couple of live ones. The music did remind me of ELECTRIC ORANGE at times not so surprisingly since Dirk on synths is from that band. Also we get Paul from ZONE SIX on bass. This is quite heavy much of the time with lots of distortion and a catchy groove.

"The Gap You Leave Behind" opens with experimental sounds that start us off on our journey. It's building before 4 minutes with guitar, cymbals and more then here we go after 6 1/2 minutes as a catchy beat kicks in and they start to cook. It calms down late and blends into "Dungeons" where it continues to be dark and spacey with electronics. The guitar rises out of the abyss after 1 1/2 minutes and drums follow. This is catchy. It kicks in hard at 3 1/2 minutes with distorted guitar and a heavy rhythm. "Two Skulls" sounds so good when the heavy rhythm kicks in early. I also like the picked electric guitar 5 minutes in and the way the guitar grinds it out later on at 8 minutes as he rips it up. What a kick ass track! "Hexensabber" has a heavy groove with picked electric guitar to start. I really dig the sound here, especially the guitar.

"Dreadnought" is an uptempo barn-burner with distorted guitar. Man he's just lighting it up after 3 minutes. "It's Raining Bones" is different as we get some talk-box early on. It settles back 8 minutes in but there's lots of distortion. "Jolly Roger High Speed Groove" certainly does groove in a major way. This is too much fun which is maybe why it's the shortest track. Love it! "Out In The Madness" ends the album and it's the longest tune at over 22 minutes. It's dark with plenty of atmosphere then the guitar and drums help out. There's more of that talk-box 2 1/2 minutes in. It continues to be fairly slow paced until around 6 minutes when it starts to pick up some. The guitar solos over top 8 minutes in. I like it! It's slowing down again but then around 9 1/2 minutes it becomes uptempo. A catchy beat arrives before 11 minutes as spacey sounds follow. A calm 13 minutes in with experimental sounds then it kicks back in before settling back late.

A solid 4 stars for this Space Rock album and fans of ELECTRIC ORANGE and the like should really check this band out.

Strictly speaking this is their first studio output, although it doesn't make a difference really, as they generally exist from the improvisation as such. Recently I took the chance to attend a SPACE INVADERS recording session, scheduled for the new follower album. It's certainly an amazing experience to witness how they manage to engineer their stuff quasi on the fly. So I preferably would denote this as 'live in the studio outtakes' at best. The band acts reduced to a quartet while missing second guitarist Dirk Bittner on this occasion, which on the other hand implies that Tipi Mike is more present than ever.

They certainly have manifested their own style of playing space rock, decorated with some krautish flavour and a proper groove, the latter resulting from Paul Pott's pumping bass and Dennis' propelling drum beats. In combination with his talk box Tipi Mike's guitar appears very empathic, varied, elaborate, though often enough also rough and dirty. Quasi as a proof for that I would name the song couple Two Skulls and Hexensabber, the latter comes close to an Electric Orange style. This is pointing to the fact that Dirk Jan Müller is involved, who celebrates some transitions between the particular tracks with his synthesizer and enriches the sound due to some quirky stuff as well as a bunch of melancholic spheric patterns.

Currently there is a lot of inspiration available concerning the SPACE INVADERS crew. Especially the last four minutes of the extended closing track Out In The Madness are so marvelous! 'Dreadnought' constitutes an excellent snaphot here, presumbly their best so far, but next time with Baal Brain as the counterpart on the second guitar we will have to await a differing presence, that's for sure. We'll see ...

... You Only Have A Few Seconds To Escape ...

Given that Nik Turner is with the SPACE INVADERS for this live gig at the Psychedelic Network Festival, they are playing songs pretty much in a Hawkwind vein on this occasion. Born in 1940, Nik just is a space rock enfant terrible, has been a member of this genre flagship for about 10 years in total, amongst uncounted other collaborations - still being able to make a lasting impression with his vocals as well as wind instruments, as there are flute and sax. What the album provides is more than 60 minutes of totally improvised stuff. A special snapshot which certainly - due to Nik's collaboration - must have been a honour to celebrate for all the regular invaders

Here we go ....DO NOT PANIC! ... with Sonic Attack they offer an incredible speech offensive as for the startup, properly supported by Tipi Mike's talk box. You only have a few seconds to escape ... since the invasion ultimately takes its course! Powered by Paul Pott's punchy bass the following short band introduction shows some typical hawkwindish punk attitude and ends with a nervous breakdown. Now on Spicy Spiders WELTRAUM fellow Dennis Gockel applies his wellknown driving drum work for the first time, a mellow groovy jam where Nik is soloing a lot with flute and sax.

Couldn't define a better song title - Drum'n'Space shines with a distinctive LTJ Bukem alike bass line. And for the extended finale initiating with Stardust Part 1 the band reaches full potential. The musician's interaction is great. ELECTRIC ORANGE leaders Dirk Jan Müller and Dirk Bittner in cooperation with Tipi Mike are responsible for the complete spectrum of spacey guitar and synth accessoires in general. For example I adore the pathetic opera string patterns which are opening Can you and especially the transition back into the second part of Stardust - very very inspired!

'Invasion On Planet Z' is a really suitable album title, you must know, as the band guests in Zofingen, Switzerland, just at a venue named Planet Z, yeah!. In opposite to a big bang, like out of nowhere the invasion comes to grips with care, smooth, happens bit by bit so to say. The SPACE INVADERS nearly steal into the room due to some electronic goodies provided by Dirk.Jan.Müller, wellknown as one driving force of the neo krautrock crew Electric Orange. Hereby the band prepares for the noteworthy experience which goes for 80 minutes at a stride - divided in four stages however - so they are caring for some structure too, a little.

The band's rhythm section is comprised of bass player Paul.Pott (Zone Six) and Dennis Gockel, originally drummer for Weltraum. Finally the superb line-up is completed by two guitarists, to name Mike Häfliger aka TipiMike of Spacenote fame and Dirk.Bittner (Electric Orange). Each member guarantees experience and inspiration, most certainly! Besides the layout ... just for a proper orientation first ... the musical flow is space rock typical, as one could and should expect. Which means alternating dynamics, relaxed floating journeys mostly as well as groovy rides, and finally you will also detect heavy moments of outburst in between.

Here we have extended meandering jams from this group which started at Burg Herzberg Festival in 2009, The album was recorded in February 2013, mixed and mastered at Studio Fleisch and released on Nasoni Records. Stylistically they are getting close to some Electric Orange output here and there. Guitars and synths are playfully placed all over, predominantly working alongside one another, however some instrumental solos are given too. I really like it when TipiMike makes use of the talkbox, this especially reminds me of the 1970's - Iron Butterfly always comes into my mind then. The longest part is my favourite - Leaving The Ruins shows them soaring up to the peak with groove - great interaction! If you are a space rock fan 'Invasion On Planet Z' will be a proper addition to your collection for sure - 3.5 stars.