records

Navel - Alexeij [lp] I note with interest that this Stuttgart based duo have made about 7 albums, however I then listen to this and note that they could probably knock another 7 off in a particularly productive afternoon… provided they weren't too blitzed. The blurb accompanying it says that the main melody here was composed as a soviet hymn for the Sputnik-2 mission and the rhythms based on cosmonaut's heartbeat. Quite literally cosmic! However it seems that the soviets had a thing for Labradford and couldn't be persuaded to include much in the way of excitement in their hymns. Ho Hum. This is a bit rum if you ask me; whereas the Mileva record reviewed elsewhere ebbs and flows fluidly, this is dryer than the sea of tranquility (AHAHAH SPACE HUMOUR) and doesn't do a lot for me. However fans of slightly tongue in cheek soviet space race themed guitar boredom are in for a massive treat! With four ten minute "songs" consisting of on occasion several notes of delayed guitar and a sort of background drone come throb. It's not Stars Of The Lid and it's not Labradford but I think it wishes it were. Then at the end BLAST OFF! It’s the loud one… not terribly interesting but louder. It did wake me up when I was attempting to use this to get to sleep. Boo! Even then it goes quiet again in the middle. Ian Unpeeled (the zine that covers the John Peel shows, info from shane@unpeeled.freeserve.co.uk)

Phon Mania