Stormclouds
Not of this Earth (self-released)
By: Gary Pig Gold
Did anyone happen to see that 'way-past-midnight screening of "Invaders From Mars" on Channel 7 a few weeks ago? For those who went to bed too early to, here's a couple of low-budget, tres-cheesy audio equivalents, OK?Britain's increasingly legendary Stormclouds have gone decidedly electroni-pop on "Not Of This Earth," with Louise Allen's vocals especially reflecting a healthy Altered Images influence while head writer/musician Steve Lines backs her in appropriately Eastmancolor-bathed Casio keyboard pads. What with references a-plenty to several classic old sci-fi thrillers (in "The Day The Earth Stood Still," Louise even admits she's got the galactic hots for that big robot monster who starred in the film of the same name), this is the kind of album we haven't really seen since that first Blondie long-player twenty-two years ago.
Meanwhile, speaking of yesteryear, the visionaries at Varese Sarabande have come up with yet another of their stellar compilations with "They Came From Outer Space": the absolute ultimate mix-disc for deep-spaced listeners, it travels the lightyears from Buchanan and Goodman's classic "Flying Saucer (Parts 1 and 2)" all the way up to a very recent Will Robinson/Bill Mumy production (just in case you missed that dumb "Lost In Space" movie too).
Also included, by the way, is one of my favorite records OF ALL TIME: The Ran-Dells' immortal "Martian Hop": Why someone hasn't concocted a trip-hop re-make of this little gem yet will never cease to perplex me--
