Ad Astra Per Aspera--Catapult Calypso

I like peanut butter. I really do. I also like rice krispies’ treats, and hot nacho cheese really hits the spot sometimes. Let me be the first to tell you though: that these three things do not taste very good together. Equally as delicious are Sonic Youth, Franz Ferdinand, opium, and bits of oriental madness. Let Ad Astra Per Aspera be the first to tell you, these ingredients are superb when thrown in the mixing pot together (unlike my cheesy peanut-butter rice krispies’). Catapult Calypso can literally blow you away from everything that’s packed within its’ ten tracks. Found inside are experimental influences like that of Sonic Youth, only hopped up on some horrible form of caffeine. Franz Ferdinand’s catchy pop-influenced indie can be spotted as well, especially in quick guitar work ("Scatter Baby Spiders!"). Added to all this are exotic Middle Eastern and Latin touches, and bits of country rhythms ("Everybody Lets Me Down"). The result is the rough musical interpretation of falling down the stairs, only fun. "Nothing Else Is the Real Thing" delivers an exhausting odd-ball instrumental, supported by the foundation of a quick-pace beat and decorated with raw guitars flying everywhere, sometimes coming across the right notes. Ad Astra channels some sort of primeval energy, both through their instrumental thrashing and punk-rock vocals. The addition of unexpected influences like the Middle Eastern and country threads reveal that Ad Astra are more than just randomly pounding out songs, they have some master scheme in mind, and are dragging you along for the ride. "Voodoo Economics" begins as if it may turn in to a off-kilter pop tune, but flips in the completely opposite direction as the tempo is sped up and the ante is raised, all hell breaks loose as the vocals let it rip ("We’re asking for subsistence!"), and just like that Ad Astra have you hooked. An exhilarating experience that’s both exhausting and refreshing at the same time, Catapult Calypso puts a new spin on experimentalism, and shows that perhaps mixing your favorites might not be so horrible. Except rice krispies.

(Published at MusicEmissions.com)