Outer Space Heaters make sure that even the potential end of humanity as we know it is as much of an entertaining, odd spectacle as they can make it. On albums like 2014’s Transmissions and the 2012 space rock epic Desolate Surf, a strong post-apocalyptic aura is felt throughout their music, with songs that approach structure about as liberally as they do genre.
Those of you who like your rock to be idiosyncratic, but compelling all the same, check out Outer Space Heaters. – Northwest Music Scene
Transmissions
“Those familiar with their aptly-named debut album, Desolate Surf, are in for some nice surprises in the band’s latest effort. Transmissions contains all the surfy, thematic guitar-led enthusiasm of their prior release, but adds some bold new influences and creative sonic experiments. The third track on the album, titled “Thruster” draws on 70’s era psych-rock breakdowns while intermixing brass-laden decrescendos and samples of what sounds like the inside of NASA’s training facility, punctuated by the band’s signature surf-rock jive. Another gem in this ten track riff-fest is the title track of the album, which features a dynamic call-and-response between shotgun-blast snare hits and staccato, arpeggiated guitar bleeps and bloops that ends with the best use of a saxophone solo I’ve heard all year.” – Nova Curve
Desolate Surf
“These days the people of Portland are no strangers to groups that pigeonhole themselves into the surf-rock genre yet, as with most genres, our music scene has a way of churning out bands that find ways to twist familiar sounds into something different entirely. This is what Outer Space Heaters have done with their latest release, Desolate Surf. The album starts out grounded on Earth with a spaghetti-western riff that launches into a driving, dynamic sound that is anything but terrestrial. As the instrumental pieces progress they send you flying past booming asteroids and shifting into a distorted warp drive while the rhythms ride the tail of a comet. Eventually you find a place in orbit around a reverb-drenched star by the named of ‘Pulsar.’ Sound like a journey you’d like to venture on? “– The Deli
“Blasting off to slip the surly bonds of Earth, The Outer Space Heaters are hot enough to warm our corner of the universe with their bombastic surf. Not of this world, surf is really just a diving board for this Portland quartet that is soon releasing their first EP. What? You mean these guys haven’t been playing together for years? I know, I know, impossible to believe. Check out the rest of their killer EP “Desolate Surf” – KZME 107.1 FM – Picks of the Week – Jun 26, 2012
“Portland’s Outer Space Heaters features Chad Van Dyke and Andy MacMillan on guitars, Auston Jubb on bass and Will Veale on drums. This clearly insane quartet plays cinematic, instrumental, progressive, sci-fi themed surf-space rock, which should excite fans of early Pink Floyd, Dick Dale, Man or Astro-Man and Explosions in the Sky. In other words, given we’re all about to be sucked into a giant black hole on Dec. 21 of this year (if you believe various interpretations of the Mayan calendar) this is EXACTLY the band you want playing as your atoms are ripped apart and you completely collapse into nothingness along with your foreclosed house and your latest marriage.” – Portland Tribune
“Exotic” … “Outer Space Heaters cite Pink Floyd and Explosions in the Sky as influences and you can hear that in what they do. But they at times implement their own, far more complex interplay with admirable skill. Their sound is familiar, but quite original. Guitarists Chad Van Dyke and Andy MacMillan interact very precisely with drummer Will Veale and bassist Auston Jubb. … This is some cool shit.” – SP Clarke, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
“Outer Space Heaters provide the soundtrack for the end of the world as they surf off the planet on a wave of radiation born of a red giant” – Sessions from the Box
“The Outer Space Heaters are self-described as the soundtrack to our dying Sun — the group has a space-rock meets post-surf sound with technically demanding guitar compositions. Think Dick Dale meets MuteMath.” – Vancouver Vector
“… rip roaring surf rock. It’s also a great musical odyssey through space, spaghetti westerns, and the ocean.” – Taco Tiki Tuesday
Even when set more traditionally in surf music, though, there are hints of progressive rock like Steve Howe’s solo work that show up here and there. … It’s a lot of fun with some killer retro power. – Music Street Journal
“OSH specializes in a very specific blend of space rock and instrumental surf. No Jan-and-Dean-esque harmonies here- instead just blissfully reverbed ambient spaces and old school proggy surf shredding. It’s easy to lose the concept of groove when dipping into that well- but I am pleased to say that guitarist Chad Van Dyke et al do not ever do so. Hooray for them, and hooray for us.” – Crappy Indie Music
Outer Space Heaters 