Robot Roll Call

If you were around for the nineties then you know all the major musical touchstones such as the Seattle sound (Nirvana, Soundgarden & Screaming Trees), G-Funk (Dr. Dre, Snoop & Domino), Electronic (Squarepusher, Aphix Twin & Alec Empire), Britpop (Pulp, Oasis & Stone Roses).
But what about the underground, such as bedroom pop a.k.a. c-86? Of course you may know Beat Happening, The Cardigans & Komedia. However there was something ELSE happening in California other than 311 perhaps as an alternative to the alternative to alternative music. I am speaking of Slumberland Records and their 40th release titled “A Certain Smile A Certain Sadness” by Rocketship. “A Certain Smile… was released in 1995 to little fanfare; however it slowly gained steam via ‘zines, and word of mouth. However the band soon fell apart and only the bands leader Dusty was left with his various keyboards, effects pedals and the like. The album left in the bands demise is perhaps the greatest bedroom pop album you have never heard. Boy girl call and response vocals - check, heart string tugging musical arrangements – check, songs that flow into one another stop suddenly and explode on a dime – check. The album opens with the greatest jangly guitar line of all time then pushes a hard synth line in “I love you like the way I used to” the song ends in a wash of reverb and echo only to pick up with two hard strikes on a snare to begin the second song on the album “Kisses are always promises” quickly picking up the tempo again. This process occurs throughout the album, up down sad happy all the time reminding you of what love meant to you when you were 16 years old. The entire album runs a total of 33 minutes 6 seconds perfect for lying on a bed daydreaming about those quiet moments you spent with someone you love or loved. Perhaps you are lying with the one you love, than this is a perfect accompaniment. Not too long to become annoying or trite as some of the lyrics are not the deepest sentiments you have ever heard but the honesty in the music cannot be denied. Even now after hearing this album hundreds and hundreds of time it still gives me chills. A perfect late summer album.
The best part is that Dusty has realized it is better to get his music out than to allow such heartfelt songs to wallow in obscurity. You may download the entire Rocketship collection from his Non-Stop Co-Op website via a pay what you like arrangement; I cannot recommend this album or any of Dusty’s output more. I also ask you do pay something to the site as I can only hope to hear more from the man. His last release “Here Comes…Rocketship” is also an amazing journey into pop music in the 21st century. Plus the site also offers music from likeminded contemporaries Andrew Kaffer of “Kissing Book” another fantastic band I would recommend too. Perhaps I’ll write about their albums “Lines and Colors” & “(s) later. In the meantime please help these highly talented musicians sell some songs so we can all enjoy more of their work.