Astrocolor: Moonlighting--Astrojazz Vol. 1

Considering the title of the recording, Moonlighting—Astro Jazz Vol. 1, and its futuristic cover art, the Canadian ensemble Astrocolor brings to mind the mid-1950s/early-1960s music that claimed the tag "Space Age Jazz," an offshoot of exotica or lounge music. It was a music considered by some at the time as schlocky, lacking a serious intent. It is, nevertheless, a somewhat forgotten genre that has taken time's test well. Albums like George Russell's Jazz In The Space Age (Decca, 1960), Martin Denny's Exotica (Liberty, 1957) and Les Baxter's Space Escapade (Capitol, 1958) have all remained relevant if a bit underrecognized. Presented initially as sounds that were the ultimate in cool, then evolving into what might be considered cheesy and uncool, they have entered a "so uncool that they are cool" category." And they remain especially fine listening experiences.

Moonlighting—Vol 1 continues along those space-age lines, mixing ambient soundscaping with early 1970s Herbie Hancock grooves, synthesizer-applied electro stardust and interplanetary soundtracks.

"An exploratory trip into deep space?" Perhaps, though the bass/drum grooves suggest the effect of gravity, the proximity to Jupiter and Saturn, and maybe a slingshot trip around the sun that sends things to the far reaches of the home star's influences, flavored by sprinklings of the keyboard spicing along the lines of what is heard on In A Silent Way, trumpeter Miles Davis' 1969 Columbia Records Astro Jazz offering.

After nine tracks of space travel, Astrocolor comes home, with "Coming Home," featuring vocalist Lindsay Bryan sounding as if she was recorded in an ice cavern on one of the cold moons orbiting Neptune. Super cool.

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