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The Astronauts- 'You're All Weird' (Irregular)

"You're All Weird"? Methinks it's a case of us kettles being called black by potty Mark Astronaut, who's been leading this band since the early '80s. How else would you describe the unique sound of this band? Only as pyschedelic-indie-rock-techno-punk-ambient-jazz-folk, but this is a word that my computer won't recognise so 'weird' will have to do. Then again, who are the real weird ones in this so-called society? (to quote Lee&Herring..)

We're led after the trance-like 'Pudden Sause' into the more catchy rock song 'It'll Happen Again', where Mark hollers like he's amazed by what he's singing, all government conspiracy. Politics is also the theme of 'Fourth Way' - "vote for nice tie, he's a good man / heterosexual, with a nice tan" - and the sinister nature is complimented by a spooky harpsichord sound and well-distorted vocals which get buried under the effects like Labour's ideals of old. Mark's voice goes between Ian Curtis and Ian Hunter, from angry to mellow on the saxophone-supplemented 'Don't Think About It', a downbeat and deadpan song. 'Time to Roam' shocks as it's aggressive techno-rock in the mould of Garbage, then it's back to the ballads, led by piano and children's TV synths, before the upsetting 'Bats in the Belfry'. "Famine and torture, hunger and hardship / appear on the screen, just like visual muzak", and a sax squeals like Beefheart at his most off-the-wall over copious interference and occasional fairground music. 'Clarity' is more focused and a bit like old Pulp but the way that the vocals are layered but don't fit in with each other make this just as unsettling. 'Conjecture' is similarly somehow very '80s New Wave with its harsh guitar and Joy Division synths, before going all Middle Eastern and jazzy! By the time of 'Where Do They Go?', the edginess evident throughout the LP ( and shown well on 'Climbdown' where Mark's voice is raw like a crow! ) may start to irritate - "perhaps you've freaked out at the mess," the lyrics anticipate. But it's only as scary as real life can be, and it ends in blissed-out ambience.

Except it doesn't, because you also get some bonus lo-fi live tracks. So that's 74 minutes of variety, quantity and quality. If you don't like the sound of that, then it must be you who's all weird.

For more details, contact the label: irregular@moosemusic.co.uk