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SaltyJon View Drop Down
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Points: 28772 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: Rushfan4's new CD Discussion thread #1-Astra
    Posted: March 29 2010 at 15:22
I'm starting my first listen now, onto the title track.  The first track gave me a big Guru Guru style Krautrock feeling and really caught my ear, the second one's sounding more "normal" (what is normal, anyway?) and still awesome.  If the album keeps sounding this good to me I'll definitely be buying it (listening thanks to last.fm at the moment), for anyone else who would like to hear the album here's the link: http://www.last.fm/music/Astra/The+Weirding
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Points: 13 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 03 2010 at 23:16
I liked this album
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Points: 22989 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 26 2010 at 14:34
I don't know if this was mentioned already, but there's also a lot of YES in the music, the kind of YES from TFTO. I was actually surprised to find Astra not in Symphonic, but on further listens it made sense. EDIT: reading the first two pages, I see that other people have mentioned this, too.

I took it from Rico's list of top 2009 albums and it was a pleasant surprise, one of the very few retro-sounding albums from 2009 that I liked (the others being The Whirlwind and The Viewing Point by The Future Kings of England, again a Space-Rock record.)


Edited by harmonium.ro - February 26 2010 at 14:48
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Points: 66584 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 26 2010 at 14:13
Thanks Jay.  Makes me wish that I had it with me so I could give it another listen.  So much good music, so few ears.
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Points: 5210 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 26 2010 at 13:35
As someone who does a little sound production, the recording of the vocals are awful. Sometimes new psych bands bury vocals when they feel they aren't strong enough to match the music. This guy's vocals are good enough, there are other ways besides that to blend and cover...just responding to previous comments.
 
My first response was exactly what everyone else said PF meets ITCOTKC. Life Bigelf, these intentionally retro bands sound great on the surface but lack some depth. But it's fun to listen to new music like this when you've exhausted the classics and I bet they would be great fun live.
 
I enjoy it just like I think virtually everyone on this forum would. I'll have to listen a few more times before giving a better assessment.
 
You are quite a fine person, and I am very fond of you. But you are only quite a little fellow, in a wide world, after all.
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Points: 66584 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 15 2009 at 20:48
I'm giving this album its first listen in a couple of months and it is still a wonderful experience. 
It has a 3.89 rating after 34 ratings.  That is quite the respectable rating.  I'm glad to see so many fellow PAers also enjoying this album.
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Points: 747 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 12 2009 at 14:43
This album was a pleasant surprise as I bought it at the recommendation of the storekeeper with no prior knowledge of the band. I quite like the retro feel of it, and the epic track Ouroboros is outstanding. 4 stars, will be interesting to see where they go from here.
With magic, you can turn a frog into a prince.
With science, you can turn a frog into a Ph.D. and you still have the frog you started with.
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Points: 2619 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 11 2009 at 06:28
Great band.1970's ( KC+FLOYD)/2. Astra is very psychedelic and dark.  In this age bands like Astra is a gift.
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Points: 17493 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2009 at 19:13
Originally posted by rushfan4 rushfan4 wrote:

Thanks Keishiro.  Great review!  I'm not much of a drinker, but it sounds as though I need to try a "premium hyper-matured scotch whisky".  Your observations are so true.  They are very psychedelic and definitely have a stoner rock feel about them as well.
Thanks Scott. Embarrassed

...Wonderfully hyper-matured whisky (not overmatured) is very very good for you to enjoy only the flavour. Wink
ASTRA's "The Weirding" has so enjoyable fragrance for you and me, undoubtedly. Clap
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Points: 66584 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2009 at 10:36
Thanks Keishiro.  Great review!  I'm not much of a drinker, but it sounds as though I need to try a "premium hyper-matured scotch whisky".  Your observations are so true.  They are very psychedelic and definitely have a stoner rock feel about them as well.
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Points: 17493 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: October 10 2009 at 10:23
Yup a great album I feel. > Scott Clap
Written my humble review and I'm so glad every fan can give me some comments. Wink
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Points: 66584 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 29 2009 at 15:07
Great.  I am glad that this recommendation has worked out well.  The other two albums are quite different from this album, but both are albums that I have thoroughly enjoyed.
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Points: 32552 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 29 2009 at 15:03
Originally posted by rushfan4 rushfan4 wrote:

I tend to listen to most of my music either on my iPod in a docking station or on my laptop, and I really don't notice any difference between this album and others that I listen to.  Which means two things: 1. that it doesn't effect my enjoyment of listening to the album, and 2. that I will never be hired to be a sound engineer.

 
 


Well I know I'm no sound engineer, especially if you consider the criticism I get with my album! LOL

Sound quality tends to be a small issue to me compared to composition and execution.  I was just curious because it really seems unusual these days to find bands deliberately choosing dated technology to record with.

The quality improves as the album goes on, but it's rather bad on the first track.

But gosh, now I'm going to have to pay more attention to your other two or three discussion threads and see what goodies I'm missing out on.  Embarrassed

I'm really happy I got this album.
https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays
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Points: 66584 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 29 2009 at 14:57

I tend to listen to most of my music either on my iPod in a docking station or on my laptop, and I really don't notice any difference between this album and others that I listen to.  Which means two things: 1. that it doesn't effect my enjoyment of listening to the album, and 2. that I will never be hired to be a sound engineer.

 
 
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Points: 32552 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 29 2009 at 14:54
Originally posted by rushfan4 rushfan4 wrote:

My copy is downloaded from the net (legally) so I haven't really noticed it being muffled and flat, but in reading other reviews and comments, it sounds as though 1970 technology was used to record the album, so that might make it come across as muffled and flat.



A shame really...

because this album has some of the coolest instrumental sections I've heard lately, especially that amazing guitar and Mellotron interplay on the title track.  Just...wow.
https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays
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Points: 66584 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 29 2009 at 14:51
Sorry, I was in the middle of typing my response when I got a phone call that I had to attend to. 
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Points: 66584 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 29 2009 at 14:51

My copy is downloaded from the net (legally) so I haven't really noticed it being muffled and flat, but in reading other reviews and comments, it sounds as though 1970 technology was used to record the album, so that might make it come across as muffled and flat.
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Points: 32552 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 29 2009 at 14:49
Nevermind, I just looked at your review again.  I guess this is how it is.
https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays
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Points: 32552 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 29 2009 at 14:09
First listen Scott.  Really killer arrangements and instrumentation so far.

But um...is there something wrong with my copy?

The sound is like...muffled and flat.  Confused
https://epignosis.bandcamp.com/album/a-month-of-sundays
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Points: 66584 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 25 2009 at 09:05
I hope that you enjoy it Rob. 
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