So, I bought this album recently (had to, it's limited to only 300 copies, I was getting worried) and no where on the record does it say play at 45 RPM. I put it on at 33 1/3 and was pretty sure I had just dropped acid and my face was melting. It was fucking intense, then the vocals kicked in and I realized my error. But seriously, someone should sample some of these tunes in 33 1/3 for some dope beats.
The band was formed from idea that was Lawrence's Ad Astra Per Aspera and members of the "Arkestra" play around town in numerous other bands. It's a cool idea, with all the members and a ton of percussion, but it does get a bit pretentious. A group of white hipsters calling themselves an "Arkestra"? Sun Ra should probably get off his space ship and punch the band in the face a few times.
The band dubs itself "Astra Beat" or "Drum Punk" (again, more pretentiousness) which means post-modern centered around percussion. They use tribal rhythms and scream a lot. They are some really good moments when the beat is steady and they place a nifty riff over the top. Some good dance moments. Then there are some borderline hippie moments, which I didn't need, but I get it and I figured it was going to happen just based on the cover. Besides, one of those boder-line hippie moments, "Apostle's Fossils," is the highlight of the album.
Ophelia's Blues
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