One Ring Zero’s latest album, Planets, includes the always controversial "Pluto," as well as the often controversial accordion and theremin. One Ring Zero
With an official release date of September 7, the album features the band’s distinct sound, a mix of indie, klezmer, old sci-fi, 1970s progressive rock, and global styles. A gypsy violin riff here, a doo-wop chorus there, a cheerful trumpet solo somewhere else — and that’s just “Venus”! “Earth,” for its part, sounds playfully dangerous on bells, muted trumpet, and strings. The otherworldly sounds of a theremin pop up throughout, as do the more earthy strains of accordions.
Crazy as it all sounds, One Ring Zero knows how to put it all together to make a solid set of songs. Not only do they all sound nice, which is always a plus, but the variety of instruments and musical styles accentuate the huge differences in the subject matter. The eight planets (plus an introduction, “63 moons” [of Jupiter], “Pluto,” and “The Exoplanets”) are each their own little world, musically, with few similarities connecting them other than a sense of light melancholy.
And, as I said, they sound good, too. At times stark and lonely, at others breezy and carefree, One Ring Zero’s musicality always shines through, even if in slightly bizarre ways. Although this sonic tour of the solar system sounds nothing like Holst’s, they share a sense of oddity, curiosity, and thrill reminiscent of space exploration. And let’s not forget, when it came out almost 100 years ago, Holst’s “The Planets” sounded pretty strange, too.
It may not be an essential for amateur astronomers, but if you enjoy interesting and otherworldly music while you observe, consider picking up One Ring Zero’s latest. Feel free to post reactions to their sound, other good observing music, and attempts to describe their music in the comments section below.