Calling their sound "...progressive/epic art rock..," Spaceport Union originated in Victoria, British Columbia. However, the band lists their current whereabouts as "Outer Space...parked somewhere out by Jupiter." Initially I find this a bit perplexing; is Spaceport Union nothing more than fun and games with a fancy prog wrapper--or are they the real deal; a prog band with serious talent who simply wish to enjoy the journey? Time to dig below the surface and find out how they define prog out there near Jupiter...
Coming in for a "don't know what to expect" first course, I am captivated by a song called "In the Heat of the Sun." The solitude of the piano hits you first, then the vocals creep in like your odd uncle who never married...the entire piece is shrouded in storm clouds that hover darkly yet fail to break your spirit. Spaceport Union packs a lot into six minutes worth of CD space. The soft drumming is accented by guitar work that slowly crawls down your spine...and suddenly everything is in focus...gonna be a great week!
Armed with a better sense of what Spaceport Union has to offer, I jump for my second serving; a harder hitting piece called "Yer Battery's Dyin'." Bass is boss on this cut, even with the strong cutting vocals. Everything in this song hits hard and deliberate. The darkness here brings with it a Vanilla Fudge psychedelia...you can almost see the amoebas splitting on the wall behind the sofa...
Liner Notes...apparently British Columbia is right around the corner from Jupiter if you fold the map just so...and hailing from these parts are Adam Basterfield on guitars, keyboards, and vocals, Caroline Spence on guitars, keyboards, saw, and vocals, Aaron St. Arnault on bass, trumpet, and vocals, and Taylor Charles on drums. Spaceport Union collided as a group sometime in 2008/2009, and have been making some out-of-the-ordinary progressive rock ever since. This is a band that exudes confidence, grit, and a wee bit of cockiness as they strut through the prog garden plucking parts they are able to turn into a marvelous whole.
Spaceport Union has top notes of Porcupine Tree, Deep Purple, and David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust tour. They have chameleon-like tendencies; the ability to re-invent and redefine themselves song-by-song. I also pick up aromatic overtones of King Crimson, early Pink Floyd, and a dose of KingBathmat. The kicker though, is while Spaceport Union shows an acute sense of prog know-how, they seem to be as stressed about it as kids watching Saturday morning cartoons while it's raining...a Happy Graveyard Orchestra approach that is refreshing, thrilling, and perplexing all at once.
The third serving on the platter is a cut from the band's debut album called "Simple Lack of Motivation." A melancholy opening...an attempt to come off as jejune while defining what a lack of spirit sounds like. Don't miss the point--Spaceport Union nails it even as they try to paint themselves as uninterested and jaded. The soft overtones of the song underlie a determination that Spaceport Union oozes almost effortlessly.
The clip posted below is the first single from Spaceport Union's new album. The song is called "White Noise" and it is a dandy. No mistaking the opening homage to the Adrian Belew era King Crimson sound--right down to Tony Levin's bass line and the gritty vocals. Spaceport Union pulls another bait-and-switch as they flow through the headphones like the first sap run of a monster maple syrup season--and then hand you a gallon of pure Grade A gold. With roots throughout the prog garden, Spaceport Union manages to channel their 70's classic prog vibe quite nicely. Learn more about Spaceport Union at http://www.spaceportunion.com/. Don't forget to follow the band on Twitter @spaceportunion to get the latest cosmic groove....and of course there is always Facebook https://www.facebook.com/spaceportunion for those of us stranded here in earth's gravitational pull...
OK fellow progheads, November has crept onto the calendar while we were busy searching for all things prog. Fortunately, the time and space continuum managed to cross the path of the Concert Closet with that of Spaceport Union. Anytime a band can cherry pick the vibe from so many cross sections of the prog genre and create a sound as distinctive as that which Spaceport Union has created, one should feel obligated to sit back and enjoy the spoils of creative genius. But alas, I must continue this journey. While I ask you to stay and savor the splendor that is Spaceport Union, I will pack up the Concert Closet and continue the search for all things prog...until next week...
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