Royal Astronomy

07/27/1999 3:00 AM, LAUNCH
Ken Micallef

Like walking through a beautiful summer garden only to see the budding blooms suddenly transformed into hideous gargoyles and blood-sucking monsters, Royal Astronomy is a twisted feast of subversive sounds and biting beats.

Always viewed as Aphex Twin's little brother, Mu-Ziq (Mike Paradinas) adopts Aphex's production, but adds unique ideas of melody and merriment. Seemingly influenced by such English composers as Walton and Elgar, "The Hwicci" and "Mentim" begin with pretty strings, piano, and oboe, then slowly (d)evolve into ripping breakbeat rides and mad-hatter symphonies.

Also like Aphex, Mu-Ziq has a wicked sense of humor, though you are never quite sure if he is laughing with you or at you. The John Cage-like piano rumbles in "Mentim" and the prog-pop synth of "Autumn Living" could be sonic jokes--or maybe not. Likewise, the wandering star sounds and sultry female voice in "Goodbye" are as surreal as they are lovely, like Dusty Springfield cooing from another world. Creating musical one-liners through samples and strings, Mu-Ziq has the last laugh.