“Quaset”
by Sky Sunlight Saxon Universal Stars Peace Band
1984 song
The modest slice of mania known as "Quaset" begins with some effects that belie the anonymous band members’ devotion to Tony Iommi; if only the blocky drums were as smooth and effective as Bill Ward. It’s the second song on Side 1 of the 1984 Masters Of Psychedelia album, at the time the first new music from Sky in several years and a surprising collection fans couldn’t have expected.
Sky Saxon and his druggy, energetic vocals are buried in the distorted Black Sabbath psychedelia of the guitars and the forward thrust of the band. It’s nearly impossible to make out most of what he sings (his voice is again double-tracked; it’s a shame at least one of those couldn’t have been mixed higher), but it can be deduced that his main inspiration on "Quaset" is matters astronomical – “universe” and “false stars” and, in the final collapsing seconds, “quasar”. In all likelihood it was this last word that lent the song its name. We suspect a Sky-written track listing when the tapes were turned in to the record company.
Like Sabbath, the guitar effects can be genuinely unnerving on "Quaset", and because Sky Saxon’s voice is so buried it’s the music that must dominate here. "Quaset" is short and fits with the other hard rock tracks on the first half of the peculiar Masters Of Psychedelia LP. That album has never been re-released, and "Quaset" has never appeared elsewhere, so to hear it you must find a copy of the original vinyl LP. Copies are easy to locate.
