Stupid Cosmonaut
Digitalis
Stupid Cosmonaut, one of those band names that explains
pretty much everything you need to know about a band's music. Since they started
2016 this space and synth obsessed outfit have been busy, dropping several music releases up to
now. They have experimented with sounds ranging from electronic, ambient and
post rock to conjure the vast cosmic soundscapes contained within their records.
Their newest release, Digitalis, once again shows their versatility of sound.
Digitalis takes a step away from the more ambient sounds of their last solo
release, Algol, to once again show us their prowess with synth and electronica.
The music contained within the record sounds like it is straight from a classic Sci-Fi soundtrack. Electronic drum beats that seem to pulse and croak paired
with long yawning ambient howls. Over the top this they layer delicate chiming
synths. Their approach to song writing lends a lot from post rock, often
starting from basic beginnings and using a motif throughout a song to build up
a sound that is thickly layered and complex. Tracks often feel organic, like they are evolving throughout their
duration. You can hear a range of
inspirations in their sound; Classic Sci-Fi soundtracks, John Carpenter
soundtracks, classic synth music. These are influences that aren’t uncommon in
electronic music at the moment especially with the emergence of nostalgia-centric
genres such as synth-wave. What stupid cosmonaut manage to do that sets them apart
is take these inspirations and sounds and add their own flavour, often adding a
fresh modern twist on them. This can be heard in the erratic drum beats that
open the track Offline also the delicate strings and clean pianos that accent
title Track Digitalis, just to name a couple of examples. It is this ability to
make musical tropes sound fresh by adding their own spin on them coupled with
their versatility that makes Stupid Cosmonaut so exciting. If you aren’t
listening to this band already, my question is… why?
8/10
FFO; John Carpenter, Perturbator, Kraftwerk.
