*** Man . . . or Astro-Man?

MADE FROM TECHNETIUM

(Touch & Go)

Garage punk rock meets interplanetary shenanigans whenever Man . . . or Astro-Man? land in a studio. And much of Made from Technetium features the kind of high-octane sci-fi surf instrumental material you'd expect from this band. There are also a couple of vocal tracks -- "Breathing Iron Oxide" and "Lo Batt." Then again, there's evidence that some of that quirky Devo-style technology members of Man . . . or Astro-Man? toyed with in Servotron -- a robotic side project that included members of Supernova -- has been adapted on Made from Technetium. "A Saucerful of Sucrets" and "Structo (Mr. Microphone Mix-up)" are proof that a little techno in your rock can go a long way. It makes me jones for my old Atari set-up.

-- Rob Flaggert

(Man . . . or Astro-Man? headline downstairs at the Middle East this Saturday, September 6; call 864-EAST.)