By Nilpferd
My main take-away this week was that other-worldly music seems to be quite dominated by synths. But despite that we are going to start with…
The Astronomical A-List:
Deep Purple - Space Truckin’ (SweetHomeAlabama)
…GUITARS IN SPACE!!! And a handy means of getting around our various destinations, of course.
The Rezillos - Destination Venus (TarquinSpodd)
Deep Purple are big fans of Venus and Mars, but The Rezillos take a decidedly dim view of our nearest planetary neighbour. To be fair, long-distance relationships are always going to be tricky at 20 million miles and Venus always was a bit gloomy on it.
Sufjan Stevens and Bryce Dessner - Kuiper Belt (MussoliniHeadkick)
Time to let the synths have their say as we head out a bit further to the Kuiper Belt. I’m not sure anyone really lives there, but we need to stock up on ice for the cocktails.
Björk - Utopia (severin)
I think björk’s birdsong inspired, ideal world is sufficiently cosmic to fit the bill.
Os Tincoas - Deixa A Gira Girou (Let the Wheel Turn) (pejepeine)
As is the Afro-Brazilian spirit world of Aruanda, an astral city said to be in orbit around the earth.
Earth, Wind & Fire - Jupiter (Nicko)
Spirits uplifted and a stranger from Jupiter has just given us a flower. Let the funk take you there to gaze at the beautiful skies.
Game Theory - Nine Lives to Rigel Five (Shivsidecar)
It’s not all fun and games though. At least the monotony of heading out to distant worlds is neatly countered by rounds of Twister.
Barry Adamson - In Other Worlds (magicman)
Some satisfyingly spacey synth work on this release from the former Magazine bass player.
Subculture featuring Marcus - The Voyage (Uncleben)
Deep-house one of the genres most suited to the theme, glad to see this ’91 classic suggested.
Return to Forever - Vulcan Worlds (BanazirGalbasi)
Prog-jazz-fusion marriage of guitar and synth to finish.
The Big Beyond B-List:
Yorushika – Martian (ajostu)
The B-list starts off on the red planet, Yorushika is keen for a rendezvous there. Whether or not it’s with an actual Martian isn’t quite clear.
Larry Bryan - Honeymoon trip to Mars (SweetHomeAlabama)
Larry Bryan has tickets for two up there in the blue, and he’s sure his honey is going to look so cute in her space suit.
Jimi Tenor & Kabukabu - Dance of The Planets (Nicko)
Getting into funky territory with this spiritual jazz/afrobeat inspired track from the Finn’s 2021 album.
Shabazz Palaces - Moon Whip Quäz (DiscoMonster)
Born on a gangster planet.
Bassheads - Is there anybody out there? (MussoliniHeadkick)
Another luscious slice of 90’s house music, sampling a Pink Floyd lyric.
Asha Puthli - Space Talk (Nicko)
Indian legend with a mid-seventies disco-soul classic.
Gustav Holst - Neptune (Loud Atlas)
As Loud Atlas notes, the most otherworldly of Holst’s planet suites.
Peter Hammill - Planet Coventry (TatankaYotanka)
The gravity’s not so great but the atmosphere’s chilling, it’s all a metaphor but this strange and distant galaxy still exerts a strange pull.
Chrome - Planet 14 (vanwolf)
Dystopian sci-fi rock sound from their Alien Soundtracks II album, recorded in the late 1980’s.
Dennis Linde - DR 31 (Fred Erickson)
We finish with a change of spaceships to get us home. I admit I’m looking forward to the all-chrome DR 31, having been space-trucked around quite enough for one weekend.
Guru’s Wildcard Picks:
Janelle Monae - Many Moons
Off her afro-futurist “The Metropolis- Suite 1” EP.
Cine City feat. Wai Wan - Plants, Animals, H2O
Big beat bliss. Samples the 1956 cult film The Forbidden Planet.
LJT Bukem feat. DRS - Constellation
Peak Jungle from the Good-Looking Records chief.
Cover art from Sufjan Steven’s Planetarium
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations in response to last week's topic: Go with the flow: songs featuring a stream of consciousness. The next topic will launch on Thursday after 1pm UK time.
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