STARMELT EP

Motorpsycho's "Starmelt" EP was released in 1997 as a companion EP to the full length album "Angels and Daemons at Play". The first track, "Starmelt / Lovelight", was also available on that album, but the other four tracks on the EP were only available on this EP. This track is a good, upbeat track from the band, quite representative of the quirky, stoner rock with an alternative flair, that was their main output of the time, rough around the edges, which gave the band their charm in those earlier days of their existence. "Up Our Sleeves" is much heavier with gravelly vocals, nothing much alternative on this track, just straight ahead, unadulterated heavy rock. It was this kind of music that got the public's attention in those years, the music that reminds one of the rough 70s rock from the band "Mountain". "Wishing Well" is almost the exact opposite of that, with acoustic strumming, ticking percussion and simple, slightly off-key singing. Yet even with that odd singing, there is something endearing about the music. Stick a little banjo in there on the first instrumental break there, Slim, then add in some piano and etc.

The 2nd side of the LP has the longer track "Flick of the Wrist", exceeding 8 minutes. It has a more progressive feel to the track, which Motorpsycho, even back then, would do on occasion. This shows the bands desire to do more than just stoner music and to stretch their imaginations a bit more. Heavy guitars get a chance to jam around against a solid beat. In the early days, guitar work was their strongest suit. It all ends with "Instamatic", which is a goofy instrumental. Not the strongest way to end a great EP, but the rest of the music is worth the price of admission anyway.