The new project of Ulrika Spacek frontman Rhys Edwards, Astrel K make their debut with an impressive showing on Stereolab's Super45s imprint, an outpost mostly known for providing a home for some of their more outre singles and one-off oddities from the likes of Tortoise, Broadcast, Yo La Tengo etc. The experimental nature of the series doesn't really reflect what's going on with these two tracks though, which unsurprisingly bears close resemblence to Edwards' other band - no bad thing, given Ulrika Spacek were both vastly underappreciated and stand as one of the best 'guitar' bands to emerge from this country in the past ten years (go back and listen to those albums - they get better over time). Edwards' vocal is higher in the mix than i've heard it before, which is as it should be for someone who has an uncanny knack for eliptical lyricism. Musically we're somewhere in the late 90s hinterland of alt. pop, reminding me in parts of 120 minutes-bothering, major label-era Flaming Lips, the krauty ebullience of Yo La, and the sideways wonk of Wowee Zowee period Pavement. No suprirse to learn that Astrel K are operating out of Sweden. There's 100% something in the water over there. A lovely debut showing.
