Spaceships are cool  - Live @ Rescue Rooms, Nottingham.

So if I was to tell you that there is a band out there called 'Spaceships Are Cool'  and that they were formed in 2006 by electronica musician Rob Maddison  and consist of  up to eight band members, not always eight, perhaps four or six or sometimes even seven and they play on stage in bright orange spacesuits & give away candy flying saucers, might you think I and them were bonkers?

If I was to tell you that according to them, the musical influences in their erm weird lives so far consist of The Knife; Cardigans; Goldfrapp; Flaming Lips; Talking Heads; Zero 7; Beck; Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass; Frank Zappa would it go in any way towards understanding why they do actually seem a little...let's say disturbed.

If I was to go even further along the plank and say that they are actuallyspaceships are cool use: 1960s stylophones, glockenspeils, theremins, vocoders, omnichords, melodicas, toy phones, fisher price tape decks, thingamagoop, acoustic guitars and tenori-on,Nottingham's finest exponents of SCI-FI SUNSHINE POP & RETRO FOLKTRONICA and that they Create a wonderland of Beats, Bleeps & acoustic guitars with an eclectic mix of instruments such as Theremin, Stylophones, Omnichord, toy phones. Now what would you think? Thought so. I'll get me coat!

But seriously folks, its true!. I know! I've seen them live and stood next to their guitarist who they'd just made redundant around two minutes earlier because there wasn't enough room on stage for them all. Makes sense I hear you holler. Listen, nothing makes sense here now the Spacepeople are on stage and let me tell you it's f***king bliss!!

If you want to take a trip into a, (as the spacepeople will tell you sci-fi sunshine pop ) I'd call it, different frame of mind catch them live.

I say that because I feel I might have led you down the garden path a bit because I reckon you're now visualising a band of freaks and weirdo's on some kind of special spacedust. The truth is actually, these guys can play. Throw the quirky, funster jolly exterior aside for a second or two and get yourselves a peek at what lies behind and I guarantee you'll not be disappointed. Its true about the instruments and shit though. They do use them. But, and it's a big but, whilst some say they do and don't either because they can't or for one reason or another the spacepeople do. And its bloody marvellous.

They were only on stage for a short while as they'd only put two quid in the meter outside for the spaceship but judging by the after effects they had dusted the crowd with they were truly welcome. Each and every normal person that witnessed the fantastical set they gave them went away with big happy smiles on their faces.

Oh, the style of music and delivery and all the professional things i have to say in a live gig review? Well, you'll have to catch them yourselves and make your own minds up. See them soon in a universe near you............

DG