The Blues Astronauts - No Sanctuary

From the very first note to the final fade-out, this is one wonderful slab of vinyl here, folks. If you're into trying new musick that you've never heard before, then this one gets five stars. First before you get to the vinyl, the cover grabs you. A hand-made cut & paste cover on a blank white record sleeve. There's no printing on this sucker. The album title & band name, the cover photo - the band photo & tracklist & song info on the back, all pasted on by hand. Inside is some of the greatest crazy Beatnik jazz blues from outer space, at times verging on No Wave. Songs like "Tabor" & "Second Coming" remind of James Chance & the Contortions while songs like "In this Life" are dub-influenced a la The Ruts. Even on the only non-original cuts, two traditional blues songs arranged by The Blues Astronauts, they are anything but traditional. "Help Me" ventures into the blues explosions of Jon Spencer while the other, "Wake Up" is more of the seeds gone bad of Nick Cave. The only thing I find disheartening about this band is the lack of information about them or about individual members. Given the early 80s time frame & the Brighton, Massachusetts locale, it is possible that one on the members is a Harvard grad PhD. in Conservation Biology & perhaps one has gone into the visual arts field. The only member I'm sure is still in musick is the trombonist Boo Elmer, who plays with the world renowned Le Nouvel Ensemble Moderne& appears on the avant garde electronic chamber musick production Bang on a Can Live Vol. 1. Other than the Boo Elmer crediting, all the rest of the info on the band is conjecture. If anyone knows more about this great last wonder, please let me/us know.

The Blues Astronauts are: Paul Bloodgood - vocals; Michael Albrecht - guitars & bass on "Wake Up"; Jodie Myers - bass; guitar & vocals on "Wake Up"; Dan Perlman - drums & percussion; Boo Elmer - trombone; Willy MacMullen - harmonica.

All words by Bloodgood, all musick by Blues Astronauts except "Help Me" & "Wake Up" are traditional, arranged by Blues Astronauts. Recorded at Real Art Ways, Hartford,CT.


Year of Release: 1982
Label: Windsor Records BSAS-10
Genre: Experimental Blues, No Wave



Track List:
Side A
1. Tela
2. Sanctuary
3. Tabor
4. Marlboro

Side B
1. In this Life
2. Second Coming
3. Help Me
4. Wake Up
5. Joseph