Equal parts mid-'90s Britpop and '60s psychedelia, the Portuguese band Plastica (http://www.plasticamusic.com) ignore the overly saturated influence of punk rock for a different kind of retro. This is a band that plays with the superstar cockiness of Oasis but with an appetite for otherworldly textures, especially in the last half of the record. Plastica shifts gears about midway through, dropping much of the initial macho riffing and completely tripping out. Thankfully, Plastica never sounds cheesy or forced when they leave the stratosphere.
Plastica opens the album with a bang before rocketing into dreamland. "Surprise" is built upon thick, speaker-blasting glam riffs and vigorous drums; it's a true toe-tapper, one that can burn bars down. On "Bugs and Astronauts," Plastica's fascination with psychedelia is unveiled as the group's two-fisted guitar attack is illuminated by creepy Moog synthesizers. "Lucky Ones" is an infectious English rocker that Oasis and Blur would've killed for.
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Like many of the Britpop acts in the '90s, Plastica is not aiming for lyrical depth; the songs are based on pop hooks, attitude, and style. Most of the time I stopped paying attention to the words and just let the group take me away. And there is some irresistible rock and roll happening here. Listen to "Radio Energy" with its driving riffs and try to say no.
On "Generation Calling," Plastica begin their journey into full-blown psychedelic rock, and it's a surprisingly natural evolution. Like the best groups from the late '60s, Plastica are keenly aware of when to kick out the jams and when to tune out into hyperdrive. They do both with mesmerizing effectiveness.
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