The Incomprehensible Static – Project Aquarius (self released)
After a long break the solo project of Pete Darrington (Cable, Electric Pets, GodNo!), The Incomprehensible Static, returns with surf-rock sci-fi obsessed instrumental Project Aquarius
Artist: The Incomprehensible Static
Track: Project Aquarius
Label: self released
Release date: 21 August 2026
Find it: Bandcamp
The first new music from The Incomprehensible Static reestablishes their signature mix of reverb drenched surf guitar, swirling Hammond organ and sledgehammer punk rock drums. And they’re still obsessed with sci-fi and flying saucers.
Single Project Aquarius is named after the UFO crash retrieval program, set up by President Eisenhower in 1963. Here we get racing riffs and expansive chords, shimmering backing to punchy, subtly-surfy runs. Melodically this is the tumbling thoughts of wanting to know, and the instinctual reaction warning you it’s better not to find out.
The solo project of Pete Darrington – credited here as Pete Static – (Cable, Electric Pets, GodNo!, The Hudson Super Six) with The Incomprehensible Static he has fully immersed himself in the Golden Age of Futurism, and crafted instrumentals that reflect his fascination with the alternative timeline of the future those from that past envisioned.
About the track Pete Static said, “I’m obsessed with UFOs, but also terrified of them. The phenomenon is real but I think it’s more terrifying than we can actually imagine. I don’t like that. I enjoy a kind of simplified b-movie interpretation and the legend of Project Aquarius seems more sci-fi cool than horrifying. It’s UFO romanticism.
“I’ve had 5 years trying to invent and learn keyboard parts for Electric Pets, so there are more notes in my sound now. I love the Hammond sound. It’s the keyboard sound of my childhood, so it ties in with that whole romanticism of simpler times.”
One day the truth will be revealed on Project Aquarius and all the rest, but until disclosure happens we’ll just have to keep looking to the skies, and letting The Incomprehensible Static provide a hauntalogical soundtrack to our curiosity.
Project Aquarius by The Incomprehensible Static is out digitally now. More singles are set to follow.
Find The Incomprehensible Static: Instagram | Bandcamp
~
If you have enjoyed reading this piece on Popoptica you can buy us a virtual coffee via Ko-fi – every donation helps us to do what we do.
We’d love it if you shared on social media too – find us on:
Find more new music on the site here and issue 1 of Popoptica in print is available via Bandcamp.
Sarah Lay
A long-standing music journalist she's also co-founder of independent record label Reckless Yes, an author of novels, and when not messing around with words and music, a digital strategist.
Latest posts by Sarah Lay (see all)
- The Incomprehensible Static – Project Aquarius (self released) - 5th September 2026
- Eilis Frawley – Calm Down (Sinnbus Records) - 4th September 2026
- Swansea Sound – Mean To Be Mean (Skep Wax) - 3rd September 2026