Although the title might make listeners think of circa-1969 moonshot music,
Moonage Timequake is actually set around ten years earlier, although with a similar theme (i.e., space-focused music). Some of it can be expected with a passing knowledge of music and history -- easy listening with the addition of spacy effects -- but there are quite a few nods to more intriguing music, including one of the foremost astral travelers,
Sun Ra himself; rockabilly sides akin to the classic "Flyin' Saucers Rock & Roll" by
Billy Lee Riley; avant-garde signal processing designed to sound like space music; and bits of science fiction radio plays. The program is precisely sequenced to connect the dots between all of this superficially dissimilar music, and the record ends up yet another success from the excellent (and perfectly named) Righteous label. Even the easy listening sides have some highlights, including "Out of This World," with Frank Comstock's orchestra engaging in some intriguing theremin and woodwinds. ~ John Bush