Blast On, Blast Off
Cosmic Wrays
Blast On Blast Off
The Rock/ Pop subgenre “Surf Music,” is as varied as any other major genre with groups influenced by traditional and contemporary aspects of the form from classic garage rock 60’s styles to modern electronica, horror, and goth, theatrical and certainly island flavors of reggae, exotica and tiki. The Snohomish County based quartet The Cosmic Wrays have carved out a niche of their own delivering what they call “Sci-Fi Surf.” The instrumental band has release the third chapter of an emerging discography Blast On, Blast Off in September of 2023. Formed in 2018 by drummer Crash Gordon (Dave Howard) who enlisted the skills of like-minded veteran players who also have a background in the high tech and aeronautics industry. Ramjet Vortex (Van Ramsey) on Organ, with guitarist Race DeLorean (Ron Averill) and Andromeda Cobra (Eric Mundt) on Bass. The ambitious collection of 15 tracks are composed as a soundtrack on a journey across a sonic galaxy. Each thoughtful and dynamic composition conjuring up images from all aspects of the sci-fi world of film, comics, gaming, and literature, but with a touch beachside fun in the sun not far behind. Opening track “Codename: Longboard,” mixes James Bond theme elements with a beach boogaloo beat. From there the mission cruised from one adventure to the next employing loads of guitar effects like sitar, fuzz, Wah, Wah and of course loads of reverb, punchy grooves and retro keyboard patches all designed to punctuate the well-constructed hooks and riff lines that burrow into you head like inter galactic ear worms. The titles guide you to build your own story lines that range from comical to outrageous. “Shoulda Turned Left at Alpha,” has Buggs bunny and Marvin the Martian rolling down the cosmic highway and encountering plenty of asteroids to dodge. “surf Dog from the K9 Nebula,” is long lost TV theme, and “Space Walk,” is a groovy dance number for those gals in moon boots and tin foil bikinis. Crash Gordon shows off his speed around the kit on the Title track and the danger ramps up on the dramatic number “The Cosmic Peril.” The crew takes a respite from the warp speed drive, settling in nicely on the laid back number “Sea Of Tranquility,” then quickly get back to work on the rousing “Callisto Dance Party,” and hard driving “Splashdown at Malibu.,” Cobra put his Bass guitar in to overdrive on the chugging rocker “Greetings From The Robot Uprising,” and the Wrays slip in a touch of Spaghetti Western fun on “Roswell Roundup.” The final track “Rouge Planet Rendezvous,” fuses all the elements into one last fever pitched tilt-a- whirl thrill ride full of flashing lights, spills and chills.
Rick J Bowen
more info and music at : https://cosmicwrays.bandcamp.com/album/blast-on-blast-off