3 tracks. Running time 55:59 The Jupiter 8 is the recording name of someone called OJ. There was once a Roland synthesiser called Jupiter 8, and though the artist's moniker may suggest it, the music wasn't actually played on one of these. Songs From the Engine Room is themed around a brief trip of our solar system, and it's the first of a planned trilogy. The musician's approach has been to record several live improvisations of each track and then picked the best version. The album gets underway with “Fifth Blob From the Sun”. A rhythmic sequence kicks things off and is soon joined by fast hi-hat percussion and kind of beepy bass notes. Shiny synth lines dance almost aimlessly around the soundfield giving a sense of planetary activity, and other electronica flit about. A feeling of organised chaos and elements of psychedelia bring to mind works by Mooch. On the subsequent tracks the basic ingredients of rhythm and quirkiness remain, but the particular make up varies. “Sea of Tranquility” starts off with a slow industrial rhythm and synth lines shooting up and then falling down the soundscape. A quick gurgling effect joins in, marking the beginning of a gradual ramp up in tempo and grooviness. In the final, and longest, track called “Red Spot” squirty space sounds and dull gong effects lead into quick paced brushing percussion. While the piece progresses an assortment of effects, grooves and fun melodies are layered in. An exploration of rhythm and groove is how I'd sum up Songs From the Engine Room. It's like taking a quick tour of the solar system in a funky spaceship.