For some reason, S.P.O.C.K left Energy Rekords
and formed Subspace Communications (SSC). It didn't take long before they recruited
another Energy band,
Cat Rapes Dog, then
Covenant from Memento Materia. As it happened,
Sista Mannen På Jorden released their
first (but old) material on this label as well. Incidently, all four of these are
on this compilation. It's a small promo given away for free to the lucky ones
at the SSC two year birthday party at the 1998 Arvika Festival, of which I happened
to be one. I was early. And the show was great. And it stomped. And I loved it.
'Riot' is taken directly from the album
Europa, but for some reason it sounds a bit thinner
here. Maybe it's just my ears not working properly. Anyway, their show was
stomping! The new album was a bit softer than the previous, but live
it kicked ass. My feet got really sore from all the jumping around and people
landing on my feet, but it was worth it. I remember the X-Ray show, and wish
I hadn't been so darn tired then. This is what I might have experienced.
I thought I'd missed the CRD track, but when I checked the track number it
was the right one. Apparently, they've changed style quite a bit after Joel left.
For some odd reason I never quite liked the old CRD, with a few exceptions, but this
is quite good. It doesn't grab me instantly, but maybe it'll grow on me.
I only saw a few of their songs, then walked out into the sunlight and mingled a
bit, and met some nice and friendly people (hi to Enrique and Wahlbom).
I wasn't entirely happy with the last S.P.O.C.K
album, but after hearing the stuff live
I must bow my head to Alex & friends; they still rock (well, in a super-synthetic sort
of way). At the show they also played
this new song I hadn't heard before, but I liked it live and it's really good
in the studio version as well. For some reason I expected them to go more
Euro-disco-crap-like, but this is, while different from the really old good stuff,
really good to my ears. No ST theme, which doesn't bother me like some die-hard ST fans
I know, but a nice little tune about some guy's first space walk. It's not so blippy,
but with an intriguing bassline and a pounding beat. I like it. And from
the live show, I was surprised to find how much I liked
Speed Of Light which I had
expected to be somewhat dull. I think I'll have to get it after all.
The SMPJ song is a slow sad blippy tune about someone's accidental death.
It seems like someone is making excuses and/or an apology, trying to blame someone else.
It's quite good.
