posted Tuesday, Jul. 7th at 8:35pm
“Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans”
-John Lennon
As you know last week we lost Michael Jackson, one of the greatest entertainers of our time. He was planning a 50-date comeback tour at age 50 when suddenly his body could no longer hold his life. AoA wants to say thank you Michael for your incredible contribution to the world. Your passion and commitment to your art was nothing less than awe-inspiring. May you continue on your musical and soul journey...
We have been working it hard on the AoA cd release trail. We are fortunate to be working with a great music promotions company “Miles High Productions” based out of Los Angeles. They have been keeping us organized and very visible on line along with getting us radio airplay and important reviews.
We would like to share with you a recent review from MusikReviews.com: Kevin Liedel, MuzikReviews.com Sr. Staff
Enjoy...
Astronauts of Antiquity
PICK OF THE WEEK
"Rocket Science For Dummies"
"Cool" is an underrated concept in modern music, where seemingly every other indie band is lining up to replace the chic with the goofy. Thankfully, some out there are still carrying the dapper torch - the experimentally jazzy Astronauts of Antiquity, for example, whose sophomore release Rocket Science For Dummies is like some lost hybrid collaboration of Hooverphonic, The Bird and the Bee, and Everything but the Girl.
As their ironic name might imply, the Astronauts are a heady mix of eclectic urban genres and ultra-cool lounge swagger. Armed with a healthy dose of funk, polished production, and a whole hell of a lot of handclaps, Rocket Science For Dummies succeeds in being both innovative and accessible, allowing eager listeners to catch an aural glimpse of the Astronauts' fast-paced, rhythmic world.
Of course, it helps to have a vocalist as dynamic and cocky as India, who, fortunately, often comes across as a self-indulgent, crooning jazz songstress rather than some pop star wannabe. Clearly, the foundation of the Astronauts' aerodynamic package is built around her teasing persona - a less-prickly version of Garbage's Shirley Manson, for example. The results are smooth and fearless: songs waste no riff or transition in their glide, compacted into nothing short of cafe-infused pop brilliance that swirls and twists around India's advisory muse.
Perhaps the real key to Rocket Science's success is the fact that it maintains an authentic, jazzy pulse throughout, no matter how glossy the production gets. Indeed, tracks like "Everywhere" pulse with a clubbish, urban rain, owing nothing to standard radio fare, while "Strangest Places" brims with a bebop soul that outstrips any coffee house-bred singer/songwriter ballad. The album thus prevails because it is both familiar and yet exotic, melding the habits and techniques of lesser-known musical styles with a tried-and-true sensibility. Such is the method of "Beautiful Fate," which plops alternative guitar, electronica flourish, and rhythmic euphoria into a gigantic blender and goes to town on the highest setting. Whereas some other band would get unrecognizable glop, the Astronauts get a tasty shake.
In the end, Rocket Science For Dummies is alluring because of its unending strive towards slick perfection, and in turn, listeners will recognize the effort and self-discipline that emanates from Astronauts of Antiquity's sonic offerings. Then again, perhaps it's not that complicated - perhaps the album is simply the musical equivalent of an unbridled car race, too damn fun to peel away from despite its mindless entertainment. Yet that, too, is a misnomer, as Rocket Science possesses an ample brain to go along with its considerable heart.
ANNOUNCEMENT!
On July 13th AoA is shooting a music video near NYC featuring the song ”Everywhere”. We are of course very excited about working with an up and coming talented film director, Satish More.
Since we are independent we will be funding this project out of pocket which is extremely challenging, but we are determined to move forward.
AoA would like to make a special offer to our fans and well-wishers. Anyone who contributes a donation of $200 or more towards the cost of this video is invited to appear in the film as an extra and receive tickets to one of our shows here in NYC. We would be so grateful for your support and it would be wonderful to have a fan join us in the process of filming. You can contact us at:
contact@astronautsofantiquity.com
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"Marrying the vibey, seductively ethereal textures of lounge, dub and trance with the timeless verities of great pop and rock songwriting, Astronauts of Antiquity have bridged various musical worlds to create a realm all their own. And while their journey has taken them around the globe, on their new album, Rocket Science For Dummies, they have brought it all back home, delivering an album that is seamless and mesmerizing, reflecting a unified expression of their musical vision."
You know sometimes what may appear as a set back in your life could be a blessing in disguise.