Rockets, Astronauts & Hot Music

Bruce Von Stiers

Take a liking for smooth jazz, electronica and pop flavored soul. Mix it with influences of top performers like Prince, Sade and even pop icons like the Carpenters. Toss it all together; add a sprinkling or two of other musical styles and you have the group, Astronauts of Antiquity.

The main components of the group are a female vocalist named India and a guitar, sitar and sarod player named B. Rhyan.

Astronauts of Antiquity have a brand new album out that is called Rocket Science For Dummies.

The duo has a support band that has Taylor Ryan on keys, Jesse Graham on bass, Shariff Clayton on trumpet and some sax and flute solos by Dave Morgan. Drum work is handled by Henry Cole and the percussion by Jimmy Lopez. The DJ for songs on the album was Fredo Molina. Other players on the album are Ivica Simatovic, Q. Sayles, Cemal Zuber, Kevin Brubaker and Michael “Tiny” Lindsay. Some of the backing vocals were done by Shalaine Adams, Gabrielle and Bernard Harris.

Everywhere is the first song on Rocket Science For Dummies. It has a light, Sade type of sound to it.

Strangest Places kind of reminded me of something Rickie Lee Jones might have done. A smidgeon of blues, a touch or two of jazz brought forth with great vocals and some tough sax and trumpet.

Things move into kind of a funky soul mode with the song Supa Soul.

Head-bopping is a must when listening to the R & B / funk flavored tune Rocket Science.

The sitar is featured in the intro to a slick song called Sweet-Tooth.

Slowing things down is an aching ballad called Beautiful Fate.

Dark, sultry vocals can be found in the song Miss Caroline. Then partway through the song they music changes into an almost Beatles styling.

Emo Healing has a definite R & B / funk appeal with hot, sultry vocals from India.

You really get a great R & B vocal treatment in Breakthrough. The music in the song is really cool.

Soup Du Jour is another R & B styled tune. It features some good guest vocals from Cee Knowledge of the group Digable Planets.

Love Is All Around has soft vocals and tough guitar and sitar music.

Dance Until Dawn is another Sade type of tune, dripping sensuality.

The album ends with a bonus track that is a dub remix of a song called Love Is A Mantra. This one has a wide mix of styling; rock, jazz, reggae, Hindustani and a whole bunch of others. It is a very interesting song.

Astronauts of Antiquity have a very unique sound. Their music transcends several styles. With this new album, Rocket Science For Dummies, they should find themselves an international success. With the hot, sultry vocals of India, the string work of B. Rhyan and their support musicians and vocalists, Rocket Science For Dummies is a definite hit.

Hear tracks from the album at the official site. It can be found at http://www.astronautsofantiquity.com/. You can also hear them at http://www.myspace.com/astronautsofantiquity

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