The Aliens - 'Alienoid Starmonica EP' (Pet Rock) Released 08/05/06

For those feeling the pangs of loss (and guilt) after the break-up of The Beta Band - medicine is here. No, not King Biscuit Time under a different moniker, but three of the one time 'Beta's' who dole out a heady brew of psyche-space-rock without the strengths of the great songs we knew so well. Just four tracks here in the key of Fife.

We beam down for 'Hey Leanne' with its grinding, warbling terrestial modulations and find we're in a swampy area with frogs, crickets and dog-woofs, then happen upon and enter a saloon bar where we're heartily warmed to a country-tinged homily with the slide guitar - "...when the aliens took off she was gone/ alien won't you come back for me/ take me back where a man can be free...", and there's a backing singer who could be Neil Young. 'Only Waiting' is a retro-60's styled psyche-out with crap lyrics but a bundle of fun and a touch of The Byrds/The Who/Small Faces/The Beatles 'Within You Without You', fortunately with rock and psych-out, wavy hands about the air - "...it's alright now/ it's OK..." and extensions of rapid-fire verse barely comprehensible but effective. "...I am the robot man..." introduces us to 'Robot Man' - a funky and daft tune where not much else goes on but you'll probably come up with a new dance, probably involving elements of dis-coordination, or is that nationdiscordia. 'Ionas (Look For Space)' is a Beta-styled tune that continues the mission started by Sun Ra to take us into space, into the cosmos with its music and message - "...the universe is near...the universe is not so far...the universe is way beyond...", featuring the male harmonies and the prog-rock more like The Moody Blues.

The Aliens will no doubt go down a storm on the Festival circuit this summer where they can be caught at the major 'Glasters' alternatives - firm to say that you'll get a share of 'wig' and 'out' in full technicolour stereophonic stratoscophic... For now, this is crucial - a sweet pill. "Medication time".