SteveBThere is no denying that Steve Bastado aka Steve (Speed Machine) Redman has led one hell of an interesting life. He probably has the scars to prove it and he definitely has the tattoos. He was in both the Magic Mushroom Band and Nik Turners zany Hawkwind offshoot Inner City Unit and then decided to go it alone with 1997 album ‘The Chosen Ones.’ Despite going with the moniker of the Albert Hoffman Experience he had nobody of that name in the band with him and if you don’t actually know who that infamous character is go look him up for some further insight and enlightenment. I missed that album and apparently the initial print sold out very quickly but after a long break Bastado is finally back with a follow up, which promises to be the labels biggest pre-order ever and that’s with some tough competition too.

Bastado has written a book about his trials, tribulations and the drug fuelled mayhem through the 70’s and 80s called ‘People Call Ya Crazy When Ya Talk Like That’ and I am rather intrigued to read it. This album is heavily indebted to those wasted years and time on various substances but it makes it pretty clear that this is way in his past now, especially as far as harder intravenous narcotics are concerned. Starting off battling away with a fly he names Adolf and who will appear several times over the course of the disc he is quick to give out an important message warning listening space punks not to put cut throttle in their arm sockets! Moving into ‘It’s Never Over’ we get a lewd and crude and definitely tattooed blast of diesel biker punk that could be straight out of the past citing the punky types of Anti Nowhere League, Splodge and even the likes of Ian Dury and other pub rock legends. Some classic guitar lines will keep the space cadets happy and Bastado makes no bones about having “borrowed” things from here and there and indeed some of these songs are pretty cheeky tributes of other numbers as they liberally nab bits from them. ‘Cocaine’ is however not a cover but a very bluesy, hazy kind of trip out all about coming down easy and the pleasures of ice. It’s somewhat dreamy and hypnotically narcotic and easy to float along with as it numbs all pain with some mellow grooves and vibes.

B-movie samples take us out into space man and it all goes trippy as ‘21st Century Spaceman’ takes off with loud and abrasive vocals powering it on. There’s a certain amount of uncouthness about it as it gets yobby and gives you a fast stomping number and a half before going all psychedelic in the midsection and then blasting back off on a collision course again. Next up is one of those heavily indebted numbers to the Wind! ‘Wolfman’ is a piece of astounding sound and some amazing music that if you don’t instantly recognise you are never getting to space but will be left on the launch pad with your trousers round you ankles. It’s a great song and Bastado’s version is something well worth howling about! ‘Tattoos’ is about the love of the Needlegun and starts of in a ding dong fashion that reminds a fair bit of Ministry on their Hot Rod and is accompanied by some amusing screams and whirring of the ink gun, there’s even a bit of The Sex Pistols lurking away in the melody here. It’s another heavy rocking number but the next ‘12 Steps To Nowhere’ is a much more sobering affair with its auto biographical lyrics about getting hooked on H and the depression that comes after its kicked.

‘Kaaaboom’ as expected is a much needed explosion into the great cosmic beyond. It’s another number that many will happily recognise (nope not spoiling it for you) and no doubt be grinning like a loon to us it bleeps and pulses and thrusts off in a heavy psychedelic burst of rocket fuel! Finishing on an epic trip literally with ‘Petrol And Bombs’ again this has some very familiar riffs and melody to it wrapped up in a new and interesting way, the familiarity of which should prove another happy listening experience to many. From there we go into a spoken word part which is very poetic and one I particularly felt kindred spiritually too as it tells a story about taking mushrooms in Ruislip Woods which is local to me and I would be lying if I said I hadn’t done likewise too in my past. It’s a mellow way to finish, well to everyone apart from that pesky fly!!

I really enjoyed this album, there’s lots about it that I was very comfortable with due to re-interpretation of some very familiar tunes and although there is a sobering message about it in parts it is an album that is done by a survivor and due to this it is a success story through and through that has been completed against great adversity, so what’s not to like? Hopefully it’s a story to be continued and who knows maybe there’s some live action to follow on the back of it too.

(8/10 Pete Woods)

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