Psssst. Wanna know a secret? OK, it’s a little embarrassing, but I have to say that I’m a sucker for SciFi music. Now I’m not really talking about movie soundtracks. Sure, some of that theme music is cool, but I’m really talking about pop music with a science fiction or fantasy bent. It’s part of what got me into heavy metal back in the day and it’s what keeps me interested in new music that adds to my genre joy.
So I was happy to see that San Antonio synth pop combo HYPERBUBBLE not only has a new record, but they are mixing their bubblegum with Star Trek. Better Set Your Phasers to Stun is a 5-song maxisingle on the Glasgow, Scotland based Bubblegum Records label.
The first track on the disc is a version of Better Set Your Phasers to Stun with guest vocals by BubblegumPunkPopDisco queen Helen Love. One mix of the song can be heard on Hyperbubble’s MySpace page, and the disc also includes the catchy track UFO Beach Party.
With lyrics like “You better set your phasers to stun, you better pop your bubble gum.” we’re not delving into hard SF, but this is just the sort of summery treat that is the musical equivalent of una paleta de mango.
You can order the disc for a mere £1.99 plus postage. Definitely worth checking out.
So, am I the only one with SciFi playlists on my iPod? I’ve got Blue Öyster Cult, Bentframe, Iron Maiden, The great Luke Ski, Weird Al, The Timelords, DEVO, Voltaire, Die Alten Maschinen and all the Whomixes I can stand. Anybody else? Got any recommendations from your SF playlist?










Does having Spaced Out: The best of Leonard Nimoy & William Shatner count as Sci-Fi music?
Yes it does! Painful, but it qualifies.
Nimoy did a “Proud Mary” to be reckoned with.
But his “If I Had A Hammer” makes me want to cry. “Highly Illogical” is highly amusing though.
Thanks for your stunning review, Paul! It’s true, I’ll buy any album with a spaceship on the cover, and have yet to be disappointed: ELO’s Out of the Blue, Boston’s 1st, BOC’s Cultasaurus Erectus, Parliament, Newcleus, The Jonzun Crew, Sun Ra…and then there’s Hawkwind! Spaceships out the wazoo, dude.
Check out Leonard on this YouTube! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC73PHdQX04
Frank: Truly a classic. I’m such a bad parent that I put this song on my kid’s iPod and he can totally sing along to it.