REVIEW: Man or Astroman?, EEVIAC Operational Index and
Reference Guide Including Other Modern Computational
Devices
- Andrew Duncan
Give this album an A for Astroman. EEVIAC: Operational Index and Reference Guide, Including Other Modern Computational Devices offers a fresh and welcoming direction for the band. Their previous release, Made From Technetium, tore away from the traditional sci-fi surf rock and experimented more with the science fiction aspect.
This time around, the boys from Alabama have gone over the deep end. Recorded both in the middle of nowhere Alabama and the middle of nowhere Brazil, EEVIAC..., a supercomputer that conceivably controls the music that is filtered from the CD, is undeniably their most creative phenomena yet.
About as enthusiastically as Einstein discovering the theory of relativity belts out the words, "It's the same series of signals over and over again," the band ignites into "Interstellar Hardrive," with a surf guitar intro only Rambo could replicate with a machine gun. Quickly, they jump into warp speed backed by Birdstuff's insane drumming that makes clever use of every drumhead and cymbal, but always keeping the beat intact.
Songs like "D:Contamination," "A Reversal of Polarity" and "Krasnoyask-26" deceives from the traditional Man or Astroman? songs of the past and heavily rely on samples to drive the song through.
"U-235/PU-239" introduces the vocal talents of new member Trace Readings, backed strongly by other rookie Blazar The Probe Handler and original members Coco and Birdstuff. The best vocal track lies on "Psychology of a.i. (numbers follow answers)" where the band recorded the song as if it was to be heard on an A.M. station coming from a transistor radio.
But the best truly lies on the finale, "As Estrelas Agora Elas Estio Marten." In between heart-pounding chord renderings and science fiction Theremin sounds, the band expresses their true talent to play entertaining music. Wipe the tear from your eye and salute the sky as the second half of the song transitions into a majestic rock ballad that builds with grace and fury. Keep playing the release and a special message from the EEVIAC mainframe system can be accessed.
