File Under: Sci-fi/Surf/Rock rating: B+ tracks 1. Pathway to the Infinite 2. Song of the Two-mile Linear Particle Accelerator 3. Preparation Clont 4. Curious Constructs of Stem-like Devices 5. Um Espectro Sem Escala 6. Many Pieces of Large Fuzzy Mammals 7. Trapezoid 8. Very Subtle Elevators 9. Within One Universe There Are Millions 10. Spectrograph Reading of the Varying Phantom Frequencies 11. A Simple Text File 12. Obligatory Part 2 Song Which 13. Multi-variational Stimuli of Subturgid Foci related links Man...or Astroman?

Man...or Astro-Man? is a band that definitely exists in its own separate plane. There is no one out there like this band...not even remotely. Samples, surf riffs, NASA Training Videos/Audio, mind-numbing drum beats, steady bass lines, and odd ball titles, these and more are all a part of the madness that is Man...Or Astro-Man?

This album is a little harder to swallow for the casual listener. There is a bit more experimentation and sampling than surf riffs on this release. The album is put together well and even better is the musical construction of the songs. There was lot of great sounds achieved and some interesting musical landscapes, which are laid out before you. Just as the cover displays a spectrum shooting from an axis to create a colorful, eye-catching world to take in, the music achieves the same feeling in the aural sense.

The combination of guitars, bass, drums, theramin, various samples, and some great computer generated sounds, Man...Or Astro-Man? takes a huge step forward in their quest for musical perfection. Some of the late tracks are mostly noise and could throw the listener who is unprepared into a state of confusion.

In the end, this is the most advanced Man...or Astro-Man? album to date. There is still room for this band to grow and make a complete work that captures your imagination, so I hope that they will continue with this trend on their next release. As with all Man...or Astro-Man? albums, you will be challenged musically and, hopefully, you will walk away a little more educated on the limitless possibilities of sound one can achieve.

Samuel Barker is Senior Editor. Contact him at suma@rockzone.com.