The Melbourne quartet's 2002 and second offering will guarantee their placement among current garage underground heroes. Modular Records.
CD Reviews
Running through my mind... NON STOP!
Khrystene Dalecki | Warszawa, Mazowieckie, Polska | 05/26/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"As soon as I saw this was on Amazon, I had to review it. It's possibly one of the best pieces of music to come out of Australia in a while, and as far as being catchy, go no further than the single "Being Followed" which is totally addictive! Rythmic, sensual bass sounds, which just make me wanna funk out 50's Beatnik style... *grin*Please give these guys a listen, I have seen them live, and they are comperable to the incomperable John Spencer Blues Explosion in their power and amplified exotic erotica.... love your Rocket Science!!!"
High Energy Retro Rock
sound_chaser79 | Australia | 02/22/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"... Oh well. This is a great album. The whole album has a real energy unlike other Oz rock. The playing on this album is great but the organ and drums stand out the most. I can't say I'm a big fan of Australian rock but this is good stuff.Track highlights: Heavy Traffic, Hyperspace, One Robot, Open Air Channel, Being Followed, Tomorrow's Soundtrack For Today's Swing Generation."
Power garage sixties rock!!!
sequeiraj | Sydney, Australia | 10/27/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Rocket Science are the best band in the country-Australia, that is-without a doubt. If you're lucky enough to have seen them live, you know you'll leave sweating and smiling. Their first album Welcome Aboard the 3C10 was good, but really didn't capture their sound, for my ears. Contact High remedies that. It's raucous but controlled, powering ahead with finesse and such a great sound. Genuine sixties organ through a leslie cabinet, slashing guitar and rock solid bass, backed by the most amazing drummer (when you see him live you'll realise how good he is). The vocals are almost screamed, but with plenty of melody, and there are riffs galore.Some songs are a little derivative, but they are so catchy and so powerful you won't care. It's got retro influences, but it's all very much a now sound. Interestingly, the single releases in Australia have been the quieter tracks like 'One Robot'. This is the best Aussie album since 'Stoneage Romeos' by the Hoodoo Gurus back in '84 or whenever. It's been played in the car stereo non stop for about three months, and everyone I know who's heard it loves it.Although there are no samples to hear on Amazon, take a chance. If you like sixties garage, detroit rock, punk, rock'n'roll, or just good music generally, you won't regret it!!!Don't take my word for it, read the other reviews!!!!"
Mystic eyes tell no lies!
mike | australia | 01/05/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My reaction on hearing "Contact High" for the first time was disappointment. Where was more of the psychedelic,ball-tearing garage-rock shown on their debut "Welcome aboard the 3c10"? I quickly forwarded through, looking for the next scorcher like "Burn in hell" or my all-time favourite Nuggets-style psych-out "Synchronise Us",only to find there were none,- bum deal!
But on subsequent listens I realized that they have moved far beyond being just another great garage band. I now find that while "Contact High" still retains their great psychedelic sixties biker film sound, particularly on songs like "Run Like a Gun" and "Economic Decline", it is when they take their foot of the pedal and adopt a more spaced-out groove like in "Hyperspace","In My Head" and especially "One Robot" and "Being Followed", that I think Rocket Science really come into their own and find a unique style. This was hinted at on some of the songs on "Welcome Aboard the 3c10", but it has been much better realized on "Contact High", with the theremin taking a back seat to a synth?
Mentioning highlights is a waste of time since "Contact High" is one of those rare albums where every track is both great and different. All killer, no filler.
If you love your garage music with plenty of organ and balls to match, you can't go wrong with Rocket Science. Get hold of a copy, no matter the cost.(and get a copy of "Welcome aboard the 3c10" while you're at it!)"
Top stuff!
coutts_82 | 01/14/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"What can i say, this record is an absolute blast from start to finish. Roman Tucker's hammond organ powers these 11 rolicking tunes like somthing you've never heard before (or maybe somthing you have a few decades ago), but thats not taking anything away from the rocking lines set down by the band (Dave Gray, Kit Warhurst & Paul Maybury) as a whole. Its expensive, but i can tell you its worth it."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1