Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA They Came From Beyond - Not Earth People
 | This Canadian band seems deeply inspired by a less reverby Man or Astro-MAN? They are tight and punk based, but there is a general lack of melody on most tracks, which is too bad, because the rhythm section is quite solid. |
Picks: Transmission From Beyond!, Man vs. Microwave, Surfin' Sleuths, The Man With X-Ray Eyes, Laika: The First Bitch In Space, The White Haired Avenger, Untitled
Track by Track Review
Transmission From Beyond! Sci-Fi Rock (Instrumental)
Reminiscent of Man or Atsro-MAN? in some respects, this riff rocker is energetic and sports interesting contrasts, but lacks a melody. The whirling theremin adds an edge of weirdness.
Sci-Fi Rock (Instrumental)
With a more melodic riff, this also seems to be arranged in a more pleasing fashion. Still, the sameness of the verses wears after a while. Still, it holds up as well as many MoAM tracks. The duel leads in the mid section are precise and add an edge.
Sci-Fi Rock (Instrumental)
Distant movie sampling and over the phone band sound... egads... but then, after the sucker intro, it comes forward into the same room you're in, and reels out like a Link Wray thing, with long sustain and an edgie guitar. I'm not sure what the "Surfin' Sleuths" is about, but it's a solid big guitar grinder, like a minor Huevos Rancheros number.
Sci-Fi Rock (Instrumental)
Intense, big guitar grind, chunky rhythms, and adequate power, "The Man With X-Ray Eyes" seems like it's a backtrack, without much of a melody, a riff delivering a mood. Too repetitious for me.
Laika: The First Bitch In Space Sci-Fi Rock (Instrumental)
The percussion is interesting, but the punkoidal backtrack feel just doesn't hold attention well. Not very interesting. Was Laika a female?
Surf (Instrumental)
Floating notes, edgie guitar, a seaworthy melody line, a cowboy backtrack, and a really enjoyable journey along a coast road. First off, it's sustained and slow. Then it's double picked and rippin'. A nice diversion from the first five tracks. Fun and cool too, the best track here.
Sci-Fi Rock (Instrumental)
Out past track 6 is a silly little collage of looped effects and carousel keyboard weirdness. An experiment in annoyance, or maybe a reflection of city life as a droid. The digital manipulation is pretty fun.