With a name like N.A.S.A., you would expect a band to create music of epic proportions. Even though the moniker of the Los Angeles duo, consisting of Squeak E. Clean and DJ Zegon, stands for “North America, South America,” their diverse blend of everything from funk to electronica is anything but earthly. Although it’s pretty unique, I’d liken N.A.S.A’s all-encompassing approach to music to that of the Gorillaz or DC’s own Thievery Corporation. To put it simply, with such a wide breadth of musical knowledge, N.A.S.A. sounds like they know what they’re doing. And sure, maybe it helps that the group’s debut album, The Spirit of Apollo, sports perhaps one of greatest ensembles of supporting artists I’ve seen on one record.
The album’s first single is “Gifted,” an electronic track featuring the non-auto-tune-drenched rhymes of Kanye West and the loveable voices of indie divas Santigold and Lykke Li. Chock full of fuzzy synth and bouncy bass, “Gifted” is the anthem for the lunar clubbin’ scene. Although it’s nice to see Kanye out in his true form again, the real highlight of the song is Lykke Li’s chorus. I don’t care what she’s saying, her voice is heaven.
The video for the song is absolutely phenomenal. It tells the story of an astronaut (surprise!) who crash lands on what I can only assume is Mars and slowly goes insane as he realizes that he’s pretty much stranded on the red planet…or is he? Fortunately for us, his descent into madness involves hallucinations filled with bright colors and shapes – think a drugged-out 2001: A Space Odyssey. But as great as that is, my heart lies in the animation used for the less trippy portions of the video. The combination of the realistic artwork used to portray the planet’s landscape and the strangely bleak design used to create the astronauts really works out in the end. I’d really like to see this style used more often.
All in all, a fantastic song backed by one of the greatest videos I’ve seen in a long time. Sure, it really drives that space theme home, but I couldn’t think of any better way to put it to use. To infinity and beyond!
