The Asteroids Galaxy Tour - 'Fruit' (Small Giants) Released 21/09/09

Scandinavian daydreamers The Asteroids Galaxy Tour have been threatening to release their debut album for rather a long time, finally after a year of showcase performances, media interest, tentative gigs and corporate association the wait is over and there is not a dead horse in sight.

An album of subtle complexities, focused attention to detail and a tempo that shifts in urgency depending on the listening environment ‘Fruit’ is as flexible as it is solid, one that stylistically begs, steals and borrows elements of psychedelia, electronica, pop, dance, Motown and soul, but avoids comprehensive pigeonholing. Born in Denmark, but not exclusively Danish, the musical lovechild of Lars Iversen and Mette Lindberg casually sidesteps all sense of geographical placement and doesn’t bow to tastemaker pressure; maybe that’s the point and definitely part of the appeal.

More appealing is the balance struck between the constant stream of delicately multilayered beats, understated samples, instrumentation and the intricate canvas they provide for Mette to vocally colour from a palette of slurred urgency, primal desire, fatalistic optimism and impulsive revelry, to create a collection of goodtime standalone tracks within a fantastic all-inclusive body of work.

There is a danger of becoming lost in the ingenuous vocals; the hallucinatory paddling pool splash so fluid against the instrumental shift that the insistent pulse of ‘Lady Jesus’, ‘Push The Envelope’ and ‘Sunshine Coolin’ isn’t always immediately apparent, so delicate is the manipulation of pace and unconsciously absorbing the modification of design.

Although borrowing from a parade of outlets, The Asteroids Galaxy Tour can’t be accused of passing off stolen goods as bargain rail chic; the vintage modernity of ‘The Sun Ain’t Shining No More’ and ‘Satellite’ providing a delicious counterpoint to ‘The Golden Age’ and ‘Around The Bend’ which throws down a brass laden gauntlet to anyone audaciously confident in their shape throwing abilities. 

With their stoked fire now in a vogue state of ember, the back end of the album floats with the pleasure of postcoital immersion through ‘Hero’ (arguably their finest moment) and the incredible melting pot of ‘Bad Fever’. To Lars and Mette it’s all about the music first, second and third, and despite the clichéd approach, it's one rewarded with a stunning debut.