Spökraketer
I had one of those first-wave mp3 music blogs right after 9/11/01 as a means to escape from reality for a while. I scoured the internet to share legal mp3s of bands I thought people should know. I studied the lineups of specific bars through the US and Europe and playlists from WFMU and college radio. It was fun blog-breaking a band, or at least being the first to have a go at them. All I really wanted to do, though, was say nice things about bands I thought other people should hear. Now we can just use Bandcamp and sort via all sorts of filters. I came across these albums from Bandcamp, so why not review them?
UFO Över Lappland - Spökraketer
Fuzzy instrumental spacey krautrock made by some Swede blokes. I really dig this album, their second. The band maintains that special feeling that makes you think these guys are magically riffing off each other. I listen via green vinyl, sit back with my feet up and watch slides of astronomy and UFO videos on YouTube. Their pleasant but expansive medium slow to slightly below upbeat rhythm is perfect for floating in space. Kudos to the band buying an image of the Aurora Borealis from a photographer. “Spökraketer” is totally entering my vernacular.
From their bio:
The title Spökraketer (Ghost rockets) refers to unknown flying objects observed in various sightings in northern Sweden during the 1940s. A full explanation to these observations has never been given, but declassified US Air Force documentation quotes the Swedish Air Intelligence Service that “these phenomena are obviously the result of a high technical skill which cannot be credited to any presently known culture on earth.” UFO Över Lappland, indeed!
UFO Över Lappland - ST
This one has more of a grittier sound than their second album, at least according to the vinyl I am playing it on. I’ll have to compare it via streaming if it is the same to my ears. They get bonus points for the title of the first song: Keep On Keepin' On Space Truckin'.
I once posted on instagram if anyone wanted to start a space trucker comic. No one replied. I thought it was a good idea. Am I salty? Kind of.
I have this found photo that reminds me of an unintentional homage to Godard.
"My Hermes handbag!"
Feeling very eclipse-y lately. Who knows how long it will last. Trying to make most of the time, though. Beth and I have been on an Otherworld podcast binge. Highly recommended. Shogun was entertaining. Made me look into the history of the era in which the series was to have took place. Sunny is amazing. Kick ass soundtrack too. Will probably be a future Record Store Day release. Numero Group already, probably, has a release in the same genre. Watched the Pete Rose documentary. He belongs in the Hall of Fame. He’s a jerk, but a hall of famer. Bonds and Clemens too. While we are at it, let’s put Dave Parker in as well. Aside from Parker, all of them I’d never have a beer with.
A few weeks ago I went ATVing in Central NY and slept in a tent with a view of the stars. Saw some shooting stars before dozing off.
