Xenophobia

Creator of science fiction sounding music ROB ASTOR releases greatest hits collection SUPERLATIVE SOUNDSCAPES.

New best of package features the best of ROB ASTOR’s original music inspired by science fiction stories, video games, and films.

October 8, 2013 - Jackson, Michigan -- Best known for creating music inspired by video games and science fiction films and novels, Rob Astor releases his first pseudo-greatest hits collection, SUPERLATIVE SOUNDSCAPES. Superlative means the best. What Rob Astor offers up on this collection are the best tracks in his catalog with a few personal favorites included to sweeten the pot.

In 2005, Rob Astor emerged on the digital music scene with his best-known title, MARSTROPOLIS. “MARSTROPOLIS was inspired by the SimMars video game (of SimCity fame),” he said. The 39-track double album undertaking eventually lead to a sequel, BEYOND MARSTROPOLIS. “A total of 11 of my tracks from those two albums are included in the soundtrack.”

Over the next few years, Rob Astor continued to develop his sound and musical visions. Between 2005 and 2008, he released nine albums, which included five, yes five; double albums, two Christmas collections, and an inspired take on the full Gustav Holst Planets Suite featured on his solar system spanning double album AD ASTRA. His music has also been included in PBS and History Channel programming, featured in a Coca-Cola lifestyles film in 2006, and is streamed into BaKno Games. Rob also wrote music reviews for MyRealTalent.com

While at the top of his form, Rob Astor then limited his output to tracks included on Christmas benefit albums entitled “At Home For Christmas” compiled and released by friend and musical collaborator, Harry Grillo, and continued to work on music for future releases.

Invigorated by the creative spark, Rob Astor continues to follow his musical dreams. “I have created a lot of really good music, even if I do say so myself. For a while, I’ve wanted to showcase the best of what I’ve done so far. With SUPERLATIVE SOUNDSCAPES, I think I really captured the entire essence of my catalog. It’s all the best stuff from my original material. The tracks on this collection are the ones that have sold the best or have a wide popularity in cyberspace.” With no promotion to back him, one of Rob’s YouTube videos had garnered over 34,000 views to date.

“The time feels right to launch this project,” Rob says. “It’s been a nagging urge. I have a deep-seeded need to be creative and share the very best of myself. SUPERLATIVE SOUNDSCAPES is the very best of what I have to offer.”

SUPERLATIVE SOUNDSCAPES features 14 tracks in total. The cross section of tunes features ambient, abstract, relaxing, meditative, acoustic, techno, neo-classical, and rock music. Culled from five double albums (MARSTROPOLIS, XENOPHOBIA, BEYOND MARSTROPOLIS, RAHU, AD ASTRA), the music spans one musical horizon of Rob Astor to the other.

The opening track on SUPERLATIVE SOUNDSCAPES is the pounding supernova powered “Tiamat (First Movement)” inspired by the Gustav Holst Planets Suite found on Rob Astor’s stellar release AD ASTRA. Next up is the Stevie Nicks inspired techno/symphonic rock hybrid “Forest Of The Black Moon” from XENOPHOBIA.

Also from XENOPHOBIA is the floating 12-string acoustic guitar dream of “Tropic Of Antarctica” featuring a glacier fracturing backbeat. Stepping into the realm of modern jazz comes the plaintive “Summer Rain On Ganymede” from RAHU. Music from MARSTROPOLIS comes in the form of the acoustic guitar/hip hop ballad “Falling Up” followed by a surreal acoustic guitar dream from BEYOND MARSTROPOLIS entitled “Flight In Ursa Minor”.

Entering the realm of abstract deep space, “Six Moons Of Pluto” from RAHU moves in time with the thoughts of trees and is featured next in the SUPERLATIVE SOUNDSCAPES line-up. Incidentally, Pluto has five moons to date. Everyone take note. Rob Astor began working on “Six Moons Of Pluto” in 2003. “The music began with recurring dreams I kept having about Pluto having six moons,” Rob said. “I’d really like NASA to use it in a documentary about Pluto when the New Horizons probe gets there in 2015.”

“Xenophobia”, from the album of the same name, casts its darker-toned shadow over droning keyboards two octaves below a piano while building intense apprehension through string layers and a Middle Eastern-inspired vocal. To counter-balance the previous track, “Aurora On Planet Rahu” from RAHU chimes in, casting the light of knowledge and enlightenment through the eternal void. As low as “Xenophobia” dips is as high as “Aurora On Planet Rahu” soars with its bright acoustic harmonics and up-beat percussion.

Layered in electronic textures is the relaxing mid-tempo “East Kinsei Kaigan” from BEYOND MARSTROPOLIS followed by the low, chunky, funky, and fun “Kutulu”, a bonus track from XENOPHOBIA. Heavily inspired by driving video game music and a track by the Japanese group Seat Belts respectively, “Skyboarding” and “Get Vertical!” keeps the fast-paced, up-beat vibe flowing to the end of the SUPERLATIVE SOUNDSCAPES ride.

The last track on SUPERLATIVE SOUNDSCAPES is “Echoes Of Raindrops (Xack’s Theme) (Rain Forest Effects)” from MARSTROPOLIS. In its simplicity, the track features a relaxing spring rain and forest sounds to inspire the music that has become Rob Astor’s best-known piece. “‘Echoes Of Raindrops (Xack’s Theme)’ was one of the first tracks I recorded in 1999,” Rob said. “On SUPERLATIVE SOUNDSCAPES, the track has brought me full circle. I’m happy if I am only defined by this single track.”

From the deep, dark reaches of fear and space the dazzling heights of enlightenment and every mood in-between, Rob Astor’s SUPERLATIVE SOUNDSCAPES collection offers up something for every listener. Be sure to pick up your copy today!