Since the end of the legendary Spacemen 3, my money has been on Jason Pierce and Spiritualized. But Pierce's old partner Peter "Sonic Boom" Kember has finally made an album that matches the accomplishments of the duo's fir... more »st band. Kember has put down his Vox guitar and turned to vintage analog synthesizers, theremin, and vocoder, and he's made some of his trippiest music ever. (And that's saying something for a guy who once titled an album Taking Drugs to Make Music to Take Drugs To.) High on the hit parade: the opening track, "Feels Like I'm Slipping Away," and "Owsley," a tribute to the infamous acid chemist. Turn off your mind, relax, float downstream. Jim Derogatis« less
Since the end of the legendary Spacemen 3, my money has been on Jason Pierce and Spiritualized. But Pierce's old partner Peter "Sonic Boom" Kember has finally made an album that matches the accomplishments of the duo's first band. Kember has put down his Vox guitar and turned to vintage analog synthesizers, theremin, and vocoder, and he's made some of his trippiest music ever. (And that's saying something for a guy who once titled an album Taking Drugs to Make Music to Take Drugs To.) High on the hit parade: the opening track, "Feels Like I'm Slipping Away," and "Owsley," a tribute to the infamous acid chemist. Turn off your mind, relax, float downstream. Jim Derogatis
"'Forever Alien' is the band's fourth longplayer. As some of you probably know,Spectrum's main player Peter Kember (aka Sonic Boom)was a member of the long defunct Spacemen 3. In fact, I believe that Spectrum truly is a branch of Spacemen 3. Especially with this CD. It's great! Kember now plays the theremin and analog synthesizer. A true slice of ambient drone heaven is to be experienced on 'Forever...'. Certainly may not be for the mainstream at heart, but then again,what really cool music is? Just an outstanding '90's indie space rock release that you're sure to get many trippin' plays from. I wouldn't have even known about this disc had not a friend informed me about it. Tracks that did it for me were the title cut,"Forever Alien" (maybe the best tune on the entire CD), "Feels Like I'm Slipping Away", their remake of Spacemen 3's "How Does It Feel?", "Owsley" and "Liquid Intentions". Recommended if you enjoy this genre."
Klang
Mr. A. Pomeroy | Wiltshire, England | 11/21/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
"A mixture of ambient drone-rock and analogue synths, this is heaven if you're into vintage electronica - even the album cover is plastered with images of old EMS synths, and the music itself is a masterclass in messing about with old electronic instruments. Thing is, that's pretty much what it is - a guy messing around with old electronic instruments. Whilst reciting pretty bad poetry over the top, in a manner which reminds me of Neil from 'The Young Ones', but with synths. It's therefore an odd half-way point between the out-and-out weirdness of EAR and the tunefulness of Spiritualised, neither one nor the other."
Great for what it is .......
richlatta | "The War Zone" ABQ, NM | 11/24/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Much more interesting than anything I've heard from Spaceman 3. Heavy synth continuously percolating and distorting . . . there are definately songs on this with vocals and all, but they're far from the "accessible" kind. Very spacey. Gotta be in a certain mood to get into this and I don't always make it through the whole album 'cause these loops and what not can get pretty intense. Still, I'm very greatful to have something so unusual in my collection."
Very interesting
Burritoman "USA" | Pennsylvania | 04/17/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This type of music isn't for the mainstream, to be sure. But it is an outstanding sonic experiment, and one that demands repeated listenings. It's also kind of creepy at times, which is a good thing."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1
