Jean-Jacques Perrey & Dana Countryman — Destination Space

Destination Space is the second collaboration between electronic, tape splice-innovator and Moog-popster Jean-Jacques Perrey & talented musician and retro-obsessed Dana Countryman. As the title suggest there’s quite a lot of space bound electronic easy listening  fun to be found here, but there’s also a more emotional and cinematic touches on display too.

Through many of the tracks titles stick to the space theme there’s quite a variation in the type of tracks here; this certainly is not all whizzing space bound moog ride as one might expect. There’s also a fine selection of musical instruments to accompany Perrey & Countryman Moog, synth and electronic elements; we have full orchestration, strings, saxes, various brass, electric guitar, bass and accordion.

A few of my favourite moments along the albums 18 track journey come in the form of: The Spy from outer Space with it’s wonderful upbeat ‘n’ 70’s spy movie groove with great Theremin playing and synth guitar like soloing elements mixed in with the pair foot taping, cool ‘n’ cheesy vibe. The funky,spaced, hand-clapped lined and vocoder lined Funky Little space Girl; which can’t help bring a smile to ones lips. The emotional and 70’s romantic soundtrack air off Rhapsody; which mixes elegant yet sad piano rise which are simmered around the edges by Moog. Or the Gallic fairground bobbing easy listening groove of Girl from Berlin with its fine ‘n’ rosining violin edges. And the big 80’s ballad meets spacey moog 70’s electronics and vocoder wonder of Beyond The Milky Way; with cheesy yet inspired guitar lines and emotional yet camp raisers.

A superb, varied, fun and emotional when it wants’ to be album- which is composed and played with really flare, retro dedication and love. Trust me once you’ve spun this a few times you wont be able to drag yourself away from its camp, cheesy yet emotional charms.