Ashtar Command’s debut album, American Sunshine, is an expansive and coherent album that defies being reduced to a single genre. Nick Drake could come to mind, as well as the Chemical Brothers. Spiritualized could be seen in there as well as The Beach Boys. There are songs of exquisite beauty and ones that unabashedly rock.

The duo were joined by many of the great and the good in the indie world with guest vocalists including Joshua Radin, Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Har Mar Superstar, Priscilla Ahn and Rachel Yamagata.

The group are probably best known for their song on Red Dead Redemption called Deadman’s Gun. Sci-fi fans may recall the concept of “Ashtar Command” that emerged in the 1950’s – an intergalactic U.N. with the mission of assisting the human race in a time of crisis. Think evolution by enlightenment, which makes the name a fitting metaphor for the band and what they’re trying to accomplish.

Have a listen to the aforementioned Mr Ebert on the excellent Save Me.

 

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