The Shape of Rock to Come

AMG Review of The Shape of Rock to Come

Stephen Cramer
All Music Guide

Green Milk From the Planet Orange released the two-song The Shape of Rock to Come CD in late 2001 on their own Ancient Records label. The first track, entitled "In the Space, Far Away From This Planet," is a 19-minute song full of stops and starts, with loose and choppy instrumentation and modest, low-key vocals. The song rises and falls, with singer Dead K's vocals whispering off and on, whispering at the end a cappella. The tracks were recorded at Japan's Orange & Camel Studio. Track one is more of a collaboration between guitarist/vocalist Dead K, drummer A, and bassist Benjian, while the second track was written by Dead K. Track two, "Switch On," is more seamless than the first track, with more instrumental consistency. The second song clocks in at nearly 14 minutes. It's clear that the band is still finding their sound. It's also obvious that the band garners inspiration from bands like Sonic Youth, Stereolab, and Tortoise, as well as jazz artists like Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. The key elements are experimentation and noise. Overall, Green Milk From the Planet Orange displays an impressive array of experimental musical arrangements, creating an exciting blend of chaos and rhythm. This CD hints at greater things to come.