Pitchfork

[Posted Friday, October 24th, 2003 04:00:00 Pitchfork Central Time]

Aspera, nee Aspera Ad Astra (like Kilborn taking his Five Questions with him when he left The Daily Show, Aspera's former singer Michael Robinson absconded with the Ad Astra suffix when he left the band), must be too busy this autumn to even give a shit about the questions that plague the rest of us. Was that kid at fault for knocking the ball back into play and screwing over The Cubs? Is Howard Dean's head real, or was his jaw designed by Disney animatronics experts? Hell, man, Aspera doesn't know. According to their newsletter, those psychedelic shoegazers, often compared to The Flaming Lips, Spiritualized, Echo and the Bunnymen and (regarding their deviant newest album Oh Fantastic) Tears For Fears, they're getting all touralicious and spraying new tracks everywhere like a stepped-on skunk.

First off, they have their contribution to Burnt Toast Vinyl's one-sided twelve-inch series ready to sell on their fall tour. Entitled the Back When Love EP (tellingly echoing Echo and the Bunnymen's Back Of Love-- coincidence? Well, yes, probably), it was produced by King Honey and Julian S. Process (the same team behind the boards for Oh Fantastica). It features three new tracks, and one that was previously released on the Japanese version of their Big Wheel Recreation album Sugar and Feathered.

Also currently available are the second and third volumes of Secret Eye Records's For the Dead in Space series, a compilation of bands covering psychedelic hero Tom Rapp (Pearls Before Swine) songs. Aspera contributes a cover of "These Things Too," alongside Rapp interpretations by Bardo Pond, Thurston Moore with Mike Watt, and Fursaxa. Which makes sense. If you've heard all the 808 drum patterns on Oh Fantastic, it's totally obvious that Aspera secretly want to be Rapp. -Ers! Ba-dum-ching.

To top it all off, Aspera is planning to do some live radio sessions at WFMU (NYC/Jersey City) and WIUS (University of Indiana at Bloomington) in early November. Not exactly Peel sessions, but nothing to sneeze at either, unless your allergies are acting up, in which case you just can't help it. Both performances will be posted on their website for your aural pleasure. Aspera is also recording material for "something special" that will be out on GSL in early 2004. More on that as details solidify. But oh, oh! I almost forgot the tour dates:

10-24 New York, NY - Lit (GSL Showcase)
10-25 New York, NY - Piano's (Suicide Squeeze CMJ Showcase)
10-30 Bronxville, NY - Sarah Lawrence College
10-31 Alfred, NY - Alfred University Powell Night Club (w/ Cex)
11-01 Northampton, MA - Pearl Street (w/ Cex, Nice Nice)
11-02 Boston, MA - TT the Bear's (w/ Cex, Nice Nice)
11-07 Chicago, IL - Double Door
11-08 Madison, WI - University of Wisconsin (w/ TV on the Radio)
11-09 Milwaukee, WI - Cactus Club
11-11 Ann Arbor, MI - Blind Pig
11-12 Bloomington, IN - Vertigo (w/ Oneida, Early Day Miners)
11-13 Newport, KY - Southgate House Parlor (w/ Colortest)
11-14 Louisville, KY - Uncle Pleasant's
11-15 Nashville, TN - The End
11-16 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom (w/ Le Tigre)
11-22 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero (w/ Out Hud, Le Tigre)
11-23 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club (w/ Out Hud, Le Tigre)