NIGHTWORK
Nightwork
OUTER SPACE
Released July 2024
Label: Bad Billy Records
Reviewed: December 12th 2024
Recorded during the conflict in their homeland, 2 piece Ukrainian Rockers OUTER SPACE deliver a 16 track album of original psychobilly
OUTER SPACE are:
Valerii Piskun: Double Bass & Vox
Serhii Bobrovytski: Guitar
1/ NIGHT WORK: The album opens up with a great intro before the main guitar kicks in. Valerii’s vocals are almost talked throughout the verse but that’s ok, it works and leads us perfectly into the catchy chorus ‘Nichna Robota’ (Night Work) chorus. Watch out for the middle break which gently leads us into a really nice guitar solo, not too fancy but perfectly judged for the song.
2/ IBASH: I love the opening of this track it leads very well into the main guitar riff which keeps coming back through the song. The chorus although delivered with anger fits nicely with the overall feel of the song.
3/ NO: Another great intro played at a lower tempo until service is resumed and the verse hits at speed. The chorus again is catchy but what I really like is how Outer Space alter the feel of the tempo throughout the song.
4/ YOU DON’T WANT: High velocity tempo glides us through YOU DON’T WANT ME with some great variety of guitar mixing rock, metal, and psychobilly together.
5/ GRAY SEA: The start of GRAY SEA stands out because it’s so different to the 4 previous tracks and the band start to push the boundaries of the genre and they do it rather well. Haunting backing vocals support Valerii’s vocals helping to make this song adventurous but very enjoyable.
6/ POISONING: We are treated with some lovely slap bass at the start of POISONING until the drums lead us into main riff. The guitar playing is busy and effective and guides us throughout the song. Watch out for the break in the middle leading into a simple but again effective solo. It becomes clear that OUTER SPACE are not going to drag out songs unnecessarily with only 2 songs going over the 3 minute mark.
7/ SHE CAN’T: This song shifts the sound of the band more towards traditional punk rock/new wave and demonstrates that they are comfortable playing different genres without losing their overall identity.
8/ ABANDONED CITY: If you took the double bass away from this song it would have a similar New wave feel as SHE CAN’T, but the bass is there creating that distinctive sound which helps to maintain the psychobilly feel.
9/ WHISPERS AT NIGHT: Slow the tempo down for WHISPERS AT NIGHT and OUTER SPACE give us a very different laid back feel and for 30 seconds you wonder whether they are going to give us more of a ballad feel of a song. The song very quickly lifts the tempo back up to what we have become accustomed to with the other tracks but watch out towards the end of the song for a gentle return to the feel at the startg of the song. Very effective.
10/ BATS: Serhii’s guitar playing on BATS is amazing to listen to and delivered in a very slick way. The riff is not a standard that we have heard time and time before, instead he gives us variety and ingenuity without becoming overpowering. I had to listen to this again and again simply for the guitar.
11/ SORROW: This is my favourite track on the album. It follows a more traditional sound and yet still manages to break the rules. Valerii’s vocals exchange perfectly with Serhii’s guitar creating a powerful variation of blues/rock’n’roll.
12/ THROUGH THE NIGHT: you will have this chorus playing in your head long after the song has finished. The variation between the verse and the chorus really help make this song work. Again listen out to the guitar riffs running throughout, very creative yet understated.
13/ THE SUN IS SETTING: For the first timer on the album I can hear the band’s Ukrainian roots particularly in the chorus. It is subtle but noticeable and more importantly works really well with the more traditionally psychobilly sounding verse.
14/ IN THE DARKNESS: The memorable guitar riff alternates with the vocals throughout the verse creating a very different sound. I particularly like the guitar solo which is once again not overpowering but very effective and leads nicely into a decrescendo before building up again and leading us back into the main riff to the end. Very nice.
15/ REMAINING HERE: Backing vocals are used again in REMAINING HERE but used quite subtly alongside the heavy guitar riff. At 1min 43 this song is short and to the point. I know I have gone on and on about the guitar playing but again, watch out for the creative variation throughout the song.
16/ THREE MONTHS: Double bass and guitar combine brilliantly in this the final track of the album. The vocals like most of the other songs distinguish that you are listening to OUTER SPACE however the creativity and variety of the bass and the guitar help make this track stand out.
SUMMARY: The variation of song writing is excellent and the creativity of the guitar tracks stands out making this a very good listen for anyone who enjoys progressive and traditional psychobilly. It must also be recognised that this was all recorded under conditions that most of us have fortunately never had to endure.
RECOMMENDATION: This is a great offering of 16 very different songs which will appeal to music lovers of Psychobilly, New Wave and Punk and so I would recommend putting it on your ‘to buy list’ sooner rather than later. Please note that all songs are sung in Ukrainian.
Reviewed By: Cal Ross
1/ Night Life
2/ IBASH
3/ No
4/ You Don’t Want
5/ Gray Sea
6/ Poisoning
7/ She Can’t
8/ Abandoned City
9/ Whispers
10/Bats
11/Sorrow
12/Through The Night
13/ The Sun Is Setting
14/ Through The Darkness
15/ Remaining Here
16/ Three Months
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