9 tracks. Running time 50:59 Phil Odins likes playing guitars loud and has been a guitarist, including bass guitar, in several bands – one of which he formed in the 80s called Dragonslayer. Planet Surfing is a solo effort he describes as “kind of chilled out atmospheric guitar instrumental, no shredding but it’s still meant to be played loud”. Although a few quiet moments can be found on the album the big guitar sound cannot be avoided for long. Whereas most music aiming at spacey themes and atmospherics mainly use synths and don't tend to be raucous, Phil has combined guitar with drums and keyboards to add punch to this genre. Across the album there's a variety of styles all connected by a big and bold approach. The closest comparison I can think of is Guido Meyer, or possibly Shaped Signs. The opening title track “Planet Surfing” is a good taster of what to expect from the album. Echoey drums and a basic percussion and barely heard pads set a background to blistering guitar lines folding themselves over the soundscape. A few tracks later in “Sliding Into Space” there's a prog rock, almost jazzy vibe as funky upbeat drum and guitar rhythms make this piece a real foot tapper. Arguably the best track is the penultimate “Goodbye Planet Earth”. A lilting refrain builds into a dramatic emotional theme as if we're watching Earth recede away on a journey to the other planets and beyond. Non-amplified guitar crops up a few times adding musical depth and a contemplative drum rhythm fills out the piece wonderfully. Bite sized chunks of a couple of tracks are more palatable for me than the whole fifty minutes, but fans of searing and soaring electric guitar should feel at home with Planet Surfing. For a unique take on spacemusic it's worth checking out.