New Music of the Day – CCX: Miles Above the Baseline – I, Symptom

The mercurially named I, Symptom continue their singular quest to explore the point of impact between dystopian electronica and trashy post-punk forms. But whereas last time around Triple Exclamation Mark was a blend of urgent warped rock and driven, dance orientated sounds, this time they offer up a slow burning, trippy meander through the solar system and beyond, hypnotic and transcendent. It is built on the use of restraint and anticipation, woven from clinical modernity and old-school musicianship.

As always there is intelligent observation and poignant thought at the heart of the music, here wrestling with the idea that the physicality of leaving earth for space exploration may be the easy bit and it is that emotional attachment which is going to be the hard part to deal with.

This is the continuation of the Major Tom discussion which Bowie began with Space Oddity and which the likes of Elton John cheaply appropriated with Rocket Man as so many others have also tried to do. This is man against the vastness of space, Isaac Asimov as a modern day electro-symphony this is also the meeting of musical worlds, something I, Symptom does very well.