Review Summary: "Rural psychedelic"
Drawing similarities with bands such as Slowdive, Mogwai, My Bloody Valentine, and The Jesus & Mary Chain, Flying Saucer Attack created an extremely unique style of music when they released their self-titled debut album in 1994. Blending static-ridden, feedback soaked guitar drones with calm, melancholic, melodic soundscapes this threesome from England created an exclusive mash-up of post-rock and shoegaze. Having a reputation for avoiding recording studios David Pearce and co. managed to stay relatively unknown until the band dis-banned in 2000. Although Flying Saucer Attack have never received much critical acclaim it has been noted that they have an extremely “cult-like” and “loyal” fanbase.
It’s a difficult task to try and pigeonhole Flying Saucer Attack into one distinct genre since they draw from so many different styles of music. Tracks such as “A Silent Tide”, “Still” and “Make Me Dream” are centered around remarkable waves of guitar feedback and David Pearce’s echoing voice. Nearly half of these songs are based around highly distorted guitars sending the listener into a trance. It’s the more ambient based, moodier songs that make this record such an eccentric listen. The albums opening number, “My Dreaming Hill” is a sublime piece of music featuring a skeletal guitar line over shuffling background noises, this song sounds like something off of a Mogwai record. Both “Popol Vuh 1" and “Popol Vuh 2" are centered around dreary ambient effects and somber string instruments. These airy tributes give the listener a break from the more dissonant side of the album. At first
Flying Saucer Attack may seem like a redundant listen, but the couple of ambient based tracks really give the album a fresh sound. One thing that really compliments the music well is the production. Recorded at David Pearce’s home on a normal home stereo
Flying Saucer Attack has a very rugged yet natural sound.
Running about an hour long Flying Saucer Attacks debut album may be tough for some to swallow. However after a handful of listens this album really shows its beauty and captivates the listener for the entire length of the album. Although this self-titled record has a very slow and steady pace it’s both entrancing and dreamy. Showcasing a wide variety of sounds from noisy, dissonant drone based tracks to moody ambient based songs
Flying Saucer Attack will not disappoint those of you seeking some hypnotic shoegaze/post-rock music.
