Listening to this in the middle of a heatwave seemed apt. Images of the Mojave Desert where Nebula grouped to record their seventh album drifted into the imagination. Listening to Transmissions from Mothership Earth as I drove along the motorway with my arm soaking up the rays might not have been quite the desert plains of the USA, but for a brief moment, sunglasses on, it felt a little like I might have been there.
Nebula reunited in 2017 and two years later released Heavy Shit. For those unaware, the band were formed by ex-Fu Manchu Eddie Glass and Tom Davies, and they unsurprisingly play a combination of fuzzed up psychedelia, space rock anthems and Sabbath encrusted riffs which to the stoner fans is a true delight.
Transmissions from Mothership Earth is a 38-minute power trip that kicks off with the high velocity of “Highwired”, and then powers through another seven songs before arriving at the end of the road with “The Four Horseman.” It’s an album of creative majesty, with most songs shorter groove-ridden workouts. Central to the album is the seven-minute “Warzone Speedwulf”, a sprawling jam, providing the band opportunity to flex the creative muscle and power, with the drumming of Mike Amster particularly impressive.
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Musicianship is inevitably a high standard. The movements are relaxed, fluid and intoxicating. Glass brings a rough edge to his vocals but at no time does he need to really lose control. It all adds to the laidback vibe that surges through the album like a current.
There is plenty to absorb and indulge in here. The fuzzed-up guitar work on “Melt Your Head” being just one example. Elsewhere, there’s a bit of spaghetti western action and the long trip of “I Got So High” allows the listener to drift away once more to the astral plains.
This type of music can often be a real challenge to listen to. Not so Transmissions from Mothership Earth. It’s been on repeat for a good week now and is likely to be there for a bit longer too. Climb aboard and enjoy the ride. It’s magic!
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Transmissions from Mothership Earth is out on July 22nd
Check out all the bands we review in 2022 on our Spotify and YouTube playlists!
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