The Astronettes – The Astronettes
Genre: Rock | Styles: Surf, Instrumental | Released: 1990 | Label: Astro Records
Alright, buckle up. This ain’t your grandma’s smooth jazz record—this is The Astronettes, a wild ride through spacey surf rock that slaps harder than most albums in its lane. It’s raw, unfiltered, and straight-up bonkers at times, which makes it unforgettable. The liner notes by Cantinflas Moncada give you a taste of what’s coming: something weird but totally magnetic.
First off, let’s talk about “Space Party.” Holy crap, this track hits like an asteroid to the face. From the opening riff, you know you’re not dealing with amateurs here. The guitar tone? Razor-sharp. The drums? Punchier than a drunk alien bar fight. And don’t even get me started on how they layer those synths—it’s like being teleported to some neon-lit intergalactic rave where everyone’s wearing metallic board shorts. You can practically smell the ozone. This one sticks because it doesn’t just play; it attacks. Like, I still hear that damn bassline bouncing around my skull days later.
Then there’s “Martian Pyramid Stomp,” which is exactly as ridiculous as it sounds—but in the best way possible. Imagine Indiana Jones if he traded his whip for a jetpack and went treasure hunting on Mars. That driving rhythm and those squealing leads are relentless. Every note feels like it’s daring you to sit still while listening. Spoiler alert: you won’t. Halfway through, when the tempo shifts into overdrive, it’s almost too much—but somehow, these dudes pull it off without losing their grip on the chaos. It’s chaotic genius, man.
Now, sure, not every track lands perfectly. Some songs feel like filler compared to bangers like “Space Party” or “Martian Pyramid Stomp.” Tracks like “Quiet Planet” try too hard to chill out after all the adrenaline-fueled madness, and honestly? They fizzle a bit. But hey, no album’s perfect, right?
What really gets me thinking, though, is how The Astronettes manages to sound both nostalgic and futuristic at the same time. It’s like someone took ‘60s surf vibes, threw them into a blender with sci-fi B-movie soundtracks, and hit puree. And yeah, maybe it’s messy, but damn if it isn’t fun as hell.
So, would I recommend this thing? Hell yes—but only if you’ve got a high tolerance for weirdness and a love for music that refuses to stay in its lane. If nothing else, it’ll make your next road trip feel like a mission to another galaxy.
Final thought: Whoever said instrumental rock couldn’t tell a story clearly never heard The Astronettes. Oh, and Che! Che? Che!
