Cremator — Alpha Ralpha Boulevard
Alpha Ralpha Boulevard is a two track, 38 minute synth epic based on the Cordwainer Smith short story, Alpha Ralpha Boulevard. The 20 minute title track gracefully breaks itself into a few movements and this helps to keep the long run time from becoming an obstacle. We're brought in with full, sweeping synth drones that play host to lighter, bubbling oscillations...like a synthesizer farting in a bathtub. Kidding aside, this intro leads us into a lush landscape of synth arpeggios and sweeping, New Age (sorry!) highs. This eventually thins out a bit and leaves us with lower notes that definitely change the upbeat mood. The lows sweep and oscillate until "Alpha Ralpha Boulevard" is sucked into the vortex and makes way for "Catmaster." The second track takes on a different tone than the first. While starting off light and airy (and, well, kinda watery, too), "Catmaster" pulls us along with some slow drum hits over low waves and what can only be described as a Super Mario Bros boss level. The lack of arpeggios adds to the alien landscape feel of "Catmaster," and helps us to envision what it's like to be one of Smith's characters walking Allpha Ralpha Boulevard to meet Abba-Dingo. One would be thoughtful and reflective while en route to meet a computer god, and "Catmaster" captures this vibe quite nicely.
Cremator has put out a quality synth album that is equal parts bleak, alien landscape and throwback synth groove. This album also hipped me to the Cordwainer Smith story, and I look forward to enjoying that along with Cremator's "soundtrack." Throw this on, space out, and think of sexy catwomen.