dave han - vocals / guitar
scott christy - drums
john robles - guitar / keys
Influences
the subconscious stream
Sounds Like
"Listen, we're all aware of how influential The Cure was. Even though they were the perfect soundtrack to sitting in your room writing terrible poetry, there was some serious songwriting going .. Robert Smith started looking like a deflated blow-up doll. Were they silly? Of course. At their worst they somehow managed some space/time manipulation and fold back in on themselves, becoming a parody of everything they were once good at. So where is this going? If The Cure had some balls they'd probably sound like Astral. Just as I Love You Interpol But I've Chosen Killers combine the dour theatricality of The Cure with the funereal beat of Joy Division, Astral are devout to their influences, sounding like they could have hung with latter day post-punk torch bearers like For Against. Hell, they have a lyric that goes "sitting by the sea again."
On other songs, like the hazy "A Lullaby from Amsterdam," they sound like early Cocteau Twins. This list of obvious influences could go on and on, but the tunes themselves are decent enough if not earth shattering. The thing is its all atmosphere, but if you ignore the fog machine and strobes you'll hear a band, a real band. They have the same raw urgency of British post-punk bands in the late 1970s, eschewing hooks for a doomy mix of vague melodies and ethereal textures. They start with vaguely tribal beats, add echo-laden guitar and vocals, and let the mood settle. Sometimes the drums hit a double beat, pounding away like a runaway drum machine.
The differences in songs here are subtle, and it suddenly occurs to me that this album would make a great soundtrack. Most movie cues are either taken from a single composition or several related ones; Sleepwalker would be the perfect accompaniment to an '80s British independent picture, perhaps about the grimy working class and a mysterious murder. The crime remains unsolved, someone gets addicted to heroin, and the surviving characters stumble into a club to dangle cigarettes from their lips while listening to "White Tigers," a Cure tribute that would have been the toast of the raincoat-clad teenagers in the Thatcher years.
excerpt of a review written on 2008/03/26 by Matthew Austin in 30music.com
"San Francisco based Astral have deep rooted influences in Joy Division and My Bloody Valentine, as proven by their full-length debut, Orchids. Dave Han (vocal/guitar) has a whispering approach that cuts to the heart while every other sense is swirling in an array of dreaminess. Turn Me Around is Astrals Only Shallow, a stereo assault of bleeding feedback and driving post-punk percussion courtesy of Shawn Poh. Other standout tracks include Blinder, the affecting Orchids, and Under Lock And Key, all showcasing a very 4AD bent to shoegaze. Astral could easily fit onto a Merge, Matador, or 4AD roster, because theyre the essence of dream rock, stuck in the late 80s and playing their reverbed hearts out. Orchids has a very classic tone to it while representing the face of what modern shoegaze has become. I like this little 3-piece, and hopefully I wont be the only one." - The Black and White Magazine
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"SLEEPWALKER", the BRAND NEW FULL LENGTH ALBUM from ASTRAL is AVAILABLE HERE NOW! Vibraphone Records is proud to present the new full length album from Astral, titled “Sleepwalker“. The band’s 6th release is the long awaited second full length album from the San Francisco based band featuring 10 brand new songs recorded since their debut album, “Orchids”, which charted CMJ 200 in 2004, as well as numerous top 10 radio station charts such as KEXP, KYMC, KFJC, among many others.
“Sleepwalker” chronicles the next evolutionary stage of the band’s distinguished sound, formerly quoted from reviewers as “shoegaze with a post-punk edge” or “My Bloody Valentine meets the Cure“. The album is dynamic with polyrhythmic, acoustic songs such as “Hindsight”, ethereal, psychedelic melodies driven by analog beats as in “A Lullaby from Amsterdam”, and has driven, angular punchy songs such as “Cracked”. The undertone of the album is romantically dark with an occasional excursion into the melancholy. With this new release, unlike so many recordings today, Astral maintains their tradition in sonic integrity by recording solely with 8-track analog tape and therefore no digital editing was used.
THE "TRANSMITTER" EP IS AVAILABLE HERE NOW!!!
This 4-song EP features 3 brand new tracks, "transmitter", "in circles", and "yesterday's calling" + a live version of "forbidden kiss" previously unreleased. This release is the first in a 3 part EP series.
Release date: April 2007. This is a very limited production and will not last long, only $4.99 (click on the image to purchase)
Physical copies of the full length debut album by Astral, "Orchids" is officially sold out, BUT is currently available on iTunes! 10 songs featuring "blinder", "turn me around", "barreling", among others. Please visit Projekt or Tonevendor for any last remaining physical CD copies!
The first 7" single for "Turn Me Around" b/w "Bloomer" is also available here on myspace. Limited pressing of 200 copies on clear vinyl. Only $2.99 (click on image to purchase)
Physical copies of the first 2 EPs, "Only Sometimes" and "Second Stitch" are currently sold out, but mp3s of "Only Sometimes" are now available through CDBaby.
Just received your new CD--Awesome! I love the analog sound...You guys are one of my favorite SF bands! Can't wait to catch you live. If you ever need an opening act, keep us in mind. Thanks, Aaron ACCOLADE
REALLY solid set last night, guys! i'm glad we got to share the stage with you, and i hope to do so again in the future. also, thanks for lending us that guitar last-minute; it was as gorgeous as it sounded. =)
It was great seeing and hearing you guys Saturday!!! You sounded great and it was fun, even if it was at a 'kind of different' venue ;-)
Dinner afterwards was fun too!!! By the way: The chips are really yummy still!!! LOL
Sorry I couldn't make it on Sunday, it was just too much going on for us all...My friends barely flew into SF at 5pm that day! well...I m sure I ll see you guys around again soon!!!
