As its title, “Water From Mars”, might suggest, Simon Herody’s second long-player for Music From Memory affiliated imprint, Records We Release Records, acts as the score for an imaginary trip to The Red Planet. The label have described Herody’s music as “ambient-informed jazz”, and Ban Ban Ton Ton’s own Cal Gibson called Herody’s debut, “Hard Lounge”, a mix of Sven Wunder and Brian Eno. 

Here, again, Herody’s saxophone chops largely lead the way. On “So Quiet Here”, it’s backed by IDM-esque electronica and a bulbous, wonky, almost acid, bass-line. On “Just You & I” the instrument forms the seductive, sexy centre of alien, glitchy R&B.“Spectral Odysee”, cosmic fusion, set at a slow, sunstroked tempo, has the reed roar like an elephant, before launching into circular breathing somersaults and a rasping solo. “Watakama” has its squeals compete with flute, woodwind flights, weird, wired emissions and birdsong over a broken, boom bap beat.

In keeping with the album’s concept, “Discovery Zone” features Tranquility Base / NASA-esque transmissions. A sampled official calling the mission, “a great ending to a new beginning”, while LFOs undulate, percussion rattles, pedal steel drones and crystalline, Ray Manzarek “Riders On The Storm” keys fall in cascades. “Elements” opens with computerised sighs, but quickly dissolves into a terrific tribute to `90s chillout room ambient techno dub. A swirl of delay, echo and filtered fractals that moves to a simple bleep bass melody. Herody’s horn soaring above added very Balearic bionic bandoneon accompaniment. “Splash Down” maps similarly deliciously dubby terrain. “Exode” is an atmospheric, ethereal expanse of treated, twisted piano.

Over the course of its 10 tracks, the cinematic suite charts Herody’s journey to and from Mars. Seamlessly shifting from jazz, to the spaced-out, and then finally returning to Earth with something more “trad”. The closing “Perseverance” finds him blowing a blues. Sad, romantic, nostalgic, his sax, combined with vibes and chimes, raising the memory of Gabriel Yared’s “Betty Blue” soundtrack. Our protagonist, perhaps, like the movie’s Zorg, up late, looking back on love, alone, with only the stars for company. 

Simon Herody’s “Water From Mars” can be ordered directly from Records We Release Records.