Aniaetleprogrammeur- The Friendly Expectations of the Stars

…it’s the ideal soundtrack for ray-gun fire and ectoplasm goo. It’s what Jules Verne, E.T, ewoks and those floaty Matrix guys listen to after the sci-fi AGM.

…it’s the ideal soundtrack for ray-gun fire and ectoplasm goo. It’s what Jules Verne, E.T, ewoks and those floaty Matrix guys listen to after the sci-fi AGM.

http://pale-music.com/2010/?q=content/pale-d-061

The Friendly Expectations of the Stars is a journey of cinematic cyber-punk. It’s a heady mix of 80s-inspired synth, harsh guitar riffs, and unearthly vocals of galactic proportion. AELP’s latest ‘leap into the void’ has enough complex and experimental sounds to keep the chin strokers satisfied and enough regular rhythms and heavy bass to keep the likes of me happy and shuffling.

Using interludes, heavy with experimental blips and hums, as awkward pit stops to fuel up on the unease and discomfort before settling into the comfort of steady electro. Out of You’s harmonious layering of tension-riddled electronics finally show signs of the album’s ‘one giant leap’ narrative gaining momentum.

Moldy invites us into the rehearsal room: a medley of disjointed, indecipherable lyrics set to dirty electronics. Encompassing an office in disarray; the track ends with the, (always climatic), sound of a telephone ringing. Then there’s the cinematic sci-fi vibe of The Great Change, it’s the ideal soundtrack for ray-gun fire and ectoplasm goo. It’s what Jules Verne, E.T, ewoks and those floaty Matrix guys listen to after the sci-fi AGM. After that Low Passion comes on as a reassuring dance track, you won’t get lost here. It’s a pause from the detailed tracks and a simple a no-brainer, encouraging your feet to do the rest.

Talking an unexpected turn with Interlude, I’ve watched enough ghost-kid themed horror films to know that minor notes from a glockenspiel aren’t a soothing sound.  Thunder cracks and eerie 80’s driven synth are the perfect accompaniment to booking in for a stay at the Overlook Hotel.  At times the album loses course, jumping wildly from untroubled disco of Realism to freeform piano in Out of Me, but hey, what’s the use of going into space if you can’t throw yourself into a black hole or two?

This isn’t a simple dance LP. AELP orbit the comfort and safety of simple dance tunes and guaranteed floor fillers. Instead, by frequently dipping into unsettled sounds and capturing everyday recordings there’s extra curious element to The Friendly Expectations of the Stars hiding underneath the surface.