PLANET X

The Planet X label was formed in 1987, simultaneously with the launch of The Interstellar Cementmixers, primarily as a means of cataloging the numerous cassette tape releases by the band. The name Planet X was taken from a track of the same name from their first album 'Or Sawdust' which will soon be available as an MP3 from the Cementmixers website. Over the years there have been 35 releases, 26 of them by The Interstellar Cementmixers and the remainder by side projects of band members Dump and Rich with other musicians namely; It, Warped Dust, Liquification Process, Cell Block Z, The Did, an album of solo tracks, and a ‘Various Artists’ compilation. All releases were released on cassette apart from the last 3 albums ‘Dislodged Resonance’, ‘Monochrome Gravity’, and the new album ‘Night Radiation’, which are on CDR.

The debut CD from the Interstellars, a group of which we can proudly proclaim to have been the first retailer in the country to stock and promote, and it is an absolute masterpiece from start to finish. They take as their cues, the wonders and splendours of playing improvised and structured music in uncharted waters, in the same vein as, and with the same satisfying results as the pioneers of early 70's electronic music such as Cluster & Tangerine Dream, in fact, the whole pioneering Krautrock electronic movement, as well as more modern outfits such as Stars Of The Lid, Amp, etc. However, far from sounding tired or dated or copyist, the music of this group is non-rhythmic, yet it flows in a magical fashion. The tracks are not identifiable in the way of “oh, a guitar line”, or “oh, a synth line”, etc. - They are just fantastic multi-textured, multi-layered soundscapes that are solid, varied and consistent, with the atmosphere of the (then) new music of the 70's firmly intact. It’s in no way difficult, and certainly up with the best that innovative labels such as Darla & Kranky have to offer these days. This is a fantastic release that anyone into this whole area of cosmic, bliss-out or spacey (or whatever you like to call it) music, has just got to check out, because it’s simply one of the finest listening experiences on the planet. There's a lot to get into and yet it's totally accessible, often tranquil and occasionally really intense, but it’s always ethereal, totally haunting.

886657
Weight: 150.00 g

The second CD is a wholly instrumental album that features just 6 long tracks over seventy minutes, and you know what - it's absolutely SENSATIONAL too!! Essentially it’s electronic, and the whole thing oozes early 70's analogue heart and soul, with vast textural panoramas of real cosmic music, played in the way it was always meant to be. The likes of early Tangerine Dream, soundscaping Agitation Free, Cosmic Jokers and Brain-label Cluster, would all have killed to produce music that sounded this good in their day! The opening thirteen-minute track alone (‘Magenta Turmoil’), with its huge, epic sweeps of flowing space/string synths, electronic bass rumblings, subtle phasing effects and more, just puts you right back at the heart, mind and heady days of the pioneering 70's when music like this was exciting and mouth-wateringly mind-blowing - and still is now, thanks to this band! Throughout the whole album, they've got the sound, feel, depth of textures, layers and arrangements absolutely spot on. The fact is, it’s all so well done that it sounds both of a time, and yet so fresh and alive, fulfilling nostalgia for the past with massive enjoyment of the present and great hopes for the future. This is music that crosses the boundaries of analogue, space, cosmic, Kraut and psychedelic categories, and is just an awesome listening experience, the likes of which can only be matched today by Ohr Musik for delivery and sound. Spellbinding and utterly essential!

219531
Weight: 150.00 g

6 tracks over seventy-one minutes of music that continues the tradition of the Interstellars journeys into the deepest and darkest realms of space. This album again offers a universe of space synths sounds with deep bass and echoed electronics. It’s all early Cluster-like cosmic passages, with plenty of slowly flowing, ever changing space music scenery as your trip takes you through musical worlds of galaxian scope. As ever, the fact that the music is so full sounding, always revealing new sounds and structures, means that once you start the trip you are hooked for the duration. This one seems a little darker than the others, but it’s still got that all-important pioneering feel and spirit of the early 70’s Germanic sonic voyagers. Contrary to the impression given by the rather stark, dark and at times, startling images on the album sleeves, you will discover that there’s nothing harsh or droney about the music inside – It is quite the opposite in fact, as the sounds are always warm, never cold, despite their surroundings and feel, with a strong heart retaining life at the core of all six lengthy pieces of music as they unfold to superb effect. Another complete winner from a truly sensational band!

678355
Weight: 150.00 g