Search - Sad Rockets :: Transition

This is the third release from Andrew Pekler, a German resident and also a member of Bergheim 34, whose neo-Kraut rock-flavored electronic music is quite austere compared to his work with Sad Rockets. The record bursts with a warm, jazzy melodicism that's not afraid to be a little goofy at times. Pekler's compositional style is similar to a lot of what's called electronic music, but a great many of the sounds are made by live instruments or using analog-flavored synthesizers. Although heavily rooted in early '70s electric groove-jazz sounds, Pekler doesn't hesitate to widen his stylistic net as the inspiration takes him; "Winter's Over," a wistful ballad for guitar, electric piano, and brushed drums, almost sounds like something from a Yo La Tengo record. He's also unafraid to experiment with recording fidelity--the track "Heavy Meta" has such a distorted drum track it sounds like something's gone terribly wrong. Another stand out track is "Sad Rockets' Rock Steady," which ditches the dub atmospherics most producers create when they head for the islands in favor of a metronomic groove, staccato Joe Gibbs-flavored saxophones, and a dash of melodica. --Bob Bannister