This record is the soundtrack to executive producer Norty Cohen’s immersive rock opera about an alien invasion and its connection to rock and roll. Amplifier Heads leader Sal Baglio compiled an all-star crew that included Dave Mattacks, Jen D’Angora, Dan Kopko, Barrence Whitfield, Richard Hilton from (Nile Rogers Band), Henley Douglas Jr., and Tom West (Peter Wolf) for a ten track, eight transmission interlude record. Ten original compositions held together by eight transmissions, pulling historical news and radio broadcasts on alien sightings over the past several decades.
First debuting in Nashville three years ago and receiving praise from Rolling Stone, Cohen’s theatrical production of They Came To Rock details a story about friendly little green men coming to Earth, which they call The Vinyl Frontier, in search of the type of music heard through static and noise on their radio.Appearing on the soundtrack in addition to Whitfield, D’Angora, Kopko, and Mattacks are Allen Estes and Samantha Goddess (vocals); Brad Hallen and Jamie Rubin (bass); Kevin Raplillo (drums and percussion); Tom West and Richard Hilton (keyboards); Henley Douglas Jr. (saxophone); and David Bryce (theremin).
The album kicks off with `Transmission #1: Arrival` a brief intro before `They Came To Rock` featuring soul and r&b vocalist Barrence Whitfield who enthuses on this bluesy soulful outing which has some delightfully deep brass blasts and a rolling drumbeat. `Transmission #2: 1957` is a retro radio edit from Texas about suspected alien arrivals before `They Heard My Radio` a dreamy rolling slight Americana tinged musing with vocals that have that soothing enticing lived in texture. `Transmission #3: Objects` is a mix match of odd sightings which leads us into `Something Went Down` with Jen D’Angora`s wonderfully quivering vocals splayed over a kind of Bo Diddly guitar vibe recalling the Rendlesham Forest incident in Suffolk in December 1980 which is sometimes referred to as “Britain’s Roswell”.
`Transmission #4: Welcome` is another brief soundbite of extraterrestrial greeting before we enjoy `Bienvenue` French for welcome and a number that had a trippy psychedelic feel that reminded me slightly of a slowed down version of The Beatles `Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds` and `Dead Star` a retro seventies styled number which had for me a Steely Dan vibe going on and featured Dan Kopko`s Smokey tones.
`Transmission #5: Showtime` is so brief you could miss it before `The Best It’s Gonna Be` leads us on a rainy night time road trip that has a probable celestial sighting that really trips the driver and passenger out. A song where you feel like you`re riding alongside the pair, maybe in the backseat. `Transmission #6: Outer Space Eddie: Betty & Barney` whets our appetite sharing the Betty and Barney Hill abduction incident in 1961 and is followed with `That Girl Betty` a ballad like outing in the style of American girl group The Shangri-Las about the female protagonist with Jen D’Angora heading the vocals .
`Space Cadette` is an amusing tale of a lady who maybe isn`t the smartest but……It namechecks Mick Jagger and does have a kind of Stones swagger about it. `Transmission #7: Outer Space Eddie: Cosmic Show` is a skit on a radio presenter followed by `Alien Blues` which is just that a kind of extraterrestrial, outer space Mississippi Blues submission. `Transmission #8: TCTR` mixes soundbite sightings before the album closes out with the delightful `The Moon Rocks` which has a fifties rock come rockabilly ambience.
What I love about albums like `Songs From They Came To Rock` is that they are either going to annoy you or float your boat but for me it was the latter category and had me on that cruiser out at sea. It had a cosmic, galactic almost other-worldly charm about it and runs at around the thirty minute mark so won`t overtake your life to any significant degree.
Give it a blast and after a close encounter with its delights, i`m sure it`ll take you to that galaxy far, far away.
Rating 9/10
