PůLNOčNÍ MYS

I'm sure most thought this would be the last studio album for the band as it was released back in 1986. Well not so fast as they released a new one last year.The title of this particular album i'm reviewing means "Midnight Mouse" and that is one cool album cover. THE PLASTIC PEOPLE OF THE UNIVERSE is to ryhthm as CAN is to groove. I just can't get over how catchy the rhythm is on just about every track. And what makes it interesting of course are the strings and horns which help in this regard. Add those reserved Czech vocals and you have a band that is truly unique. Just to clarify,we get clarinet, trombone and bass clarinet for horns and violin, cello and viola for strings.

"Pulnocni Mys" is all about that rhythm including some different sounding guitar as horns join in followed by vocals before a minute. Strings late. Catchy stuff. Check out the bass ! "Ruka / Co Zde Snim A Co Zde Vypiju" is mid paced as strings join in quickly then reserved vocals and horns. "Mlady Holky" opens with chunky bass and horns. Very cool sound here. Strings then vocals follow. Excellent track. "Leze" opens with percussion before vocals and strings take over with cymbals. Contrasts continue. Nice. "Podvlikacky" opens with horns and flute as strings help out with that beat.Vocals join in.This is uptempo and catchy. Love the bass before 3 1/2 minutes. Huge ! The rhythm is so catchy too. "Vrati Se" is a short piece that opens with vocals that yell. Killer bass ! Horns are prominant too. Strings 2 minutes in.

"Podel Zdi A Doleva" opens with strings then it picks up quickly and vocals arrive after a minute. A catchy rhythm once again is the highlight. "Z Kouta Do Kouta" is catchy with the strings over top. Vocals join in and when this ends he's out of breath. "Zpiva" opens with vocals that sort of laugh with the rhythm. Cool. Spoken vocals follow as the rhythm continues with strings over top. Outstanding. "Pokouseni" is the 23 minute closer. It's different because we get spoken words that will come and go all the way through and in between we get that ever so catchy rhythm that starts after 5 1/2 minutes. Just an incredible track that works regardless of the spoken words I don't understand. I'd like to think he says some humerous things though by his tone.The song's last 6 minutes are like the opening 6 minutes.

A solid 4 stars for this mouse.