PRESENTS THE ADVENTURES OF THE ASTRAL PIRATES

Well I like the idea, an all instrumental concept album of the sic-fi variety. Having Patrick Gleeson on synths was a great idea but I have no idea who the rest of the band are other than our drummer Lenny White of course. Not that that matters necessarily but I really felt that this was one of those pedestrian albums other than the song "Mandarin Warlords". We basically have ten chapters in this concept with the opening song being the prelude so eleven tracks in all at just under 40 minutes.

"Prelude:Theme For Astral Pirates" is simply a short spacey tune with acoustic guitar and outbursts of piano. "Pursuit" opens with some nice bass and drums as the guitar comes in over top. The organ's turn after 1 1/2 minutes then back to the guitar along with strings and more. "Mandarin Warlords" is by far my favourite with those female vocal melodies bring Zeuhl to mind after 1 1/2 minutes and throughout.

"The Great Pyramid" opens with drums as relaxed bass joins in. Kind of funky here as spacey sounds help out. Ethnic sounding guitar before 1 1/2 minutes gives this a World music flavour. Organ and a heavier sound late. "Universal Love" is a commercial vocal track with male vocals. Very soulful but I'm not a fan. "Remembering" is a very short piano only piece sounding classical. "Revelation" opens with guitar and atmosphere then piano takes over after 1 1/2 minutes. Pretty stuff.

"Stew, Cabbage And Galactic Beans" is pretty much a "rock" track as the guitar lights it up at times as the organ runs. It turns funky before 2 minutes though then the organ leads again. "Heavy Metal Monster" opens with drums and a heavier sound. Funky bass too. Organ before 2 1/2 minutes then the guitar is back a minute later. "Assault" features a one minute drum solo from White. "Climax:Theme For Astral Pirates" ends it with guitar and a spacey background in this all instrumental closer. Piano leads for a while but the guitar returns to end it.

A pretty good album but it left me feeling not very impressed overall. I'll take his "Venusian Summer" album over this all the way.