Imagine the moment the universe reveals itself to you, openly and without hesitation. Those ancient, intergalactic secrets brought out into the bright, all-encompassing light of knowledge for you to finally understand and appreciate. Misunderstandings of existence, the afterlife, religion, death, and love are displayed to you -to anyone- for the first time ever in all of this or any world’s lifespan. This is the moment the meaning of it all comes to fruition….
I imagine that moment would sound something like Astral TV’s new track “Human”.
Astral TV is the duo of Rasmus Rasmussen and Keith Canisius and they seem to have captured a perfect mix of ambient music, sci-fi sounds, and heady existential sound explorations within 14 tracks on their debut album for El Paraiso Records titled Chrystal Shores.
So will Astral TV appeal to you? I don’t know, do you feel general human emotions? Do you ever ponder the bigger questions about where we come from or what is the meaning of it all? Do you enjoy staring across a darkening horizon to watch the sun sink into the abyss of evening? Do you love, long, or yearn for another person that may be out of reach? Would you rather read Philip K. Dick instead of Michael Crichton? Have you ever thought you can’t get enough Tangerine Dream, Popol Vuh, or Klaus Schulze? If the answer to one or all of these is “Well, yeah”, then Astral TV is certainly for you.
The newest track to be released into the world from Astral TV(the first being “Sun Flares” back in June) is “Human”, and it’s exquisite. In its 2:16 running time, it pulsates and opens like some lost Blade Runner track. Synths percolate and bloom, revealing new layers of sonic joy. It’s both a sci-fi-sounding piece and also hints at some lost musical interlude you may have heard in the early 70s that Boards of Canada might’ve sampled on Music Has The Right To Children. Rasmussen and Canisius sound like two space age wizards laying out a map to the universe with nothing more than various analog toys and circuit boxes.
“Human” is yet another stellar track off what will be one of the best heavy synth releases of the year. Put on some headphones and hit play below and get lost for a couple minutes in the warm, bubbling tones of Astral TV’s “Human”, then hit the link right here and go preorder this record.
Astral TV’s Chrystal Shores arrives July 21st via El Paraiso Records.
Complex Distractions 
Again, El Paraiso are just about the most interesting and consistent (and consistently interesting) record label around. I’ve been fairly impressed with the two tracks I’ve heard from these guys, so I guess that’s gotta be a good sign that the actual album will be plenty good!
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Also, Philip K. Dick instead of Michael Crichton. Unless it involves dinosaurs. Naturally.
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Well yeah, Crichton has dinosaurs covered for sure.
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It’s a hell of an album! You’re gonna dig it, and your morning commute will be all the better for it.
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That’s all we ask for of our music, huh? A better morning commute…
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“Imagine the moment the universe reveals itself to you, openly and without hesitation. Those ancient, intergalactic secrets brought out into the bright, all-encompassing light of knowledge for you to finally understand and appreciate. Misunderstandings of existence, the afterlife, religion, death, and love are displayed to you -to anyone- for the first time ever in all of this or any world’s lifespan. This is the moment the meaning of it all comes to fruition….”
Who knew all I needed was a song, eh? Huh.
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A song can do a whole lot. At least the right song, that is.
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Haha man, Philip K. Dick vs Michael Crichton is no contest. PKD all the way!
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Exactly!
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I see a ton of Crichton come through my work at the thrift shop. They don’t really move. But if I saw PKD books (I hardly ever do), I’d walk around with them and say to customers “here, you NEED to read this!” 🙂
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I think Philip K Dick should be required reading in school. The same with Ray Bradbury and Richard Matheson.
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I do really like this. Gorgeous sounding track. Hmm.
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The whole album is really, really good. You should look up Aerosol as well. That’s Rasmussen’s solo project. Puts me in mind of Ulrich Schnauss a bit.
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