"Secret Agent Man" B/W "Breathless"

Science Fiction was the moniker used by the California couple M & R Curtis for their experimental music project based in the Santa Cruz area back in the early 1980s. This 7” single reissue, Secret Agent Man, one of the only two recordings ever released by the duo (the other a 12” album titled Terrible Lizards) is a fascinating example of outsider pop (a-side, Secret Agent Man) and early American ambient experimentation (b-side, Breathless). Highly recommended.

Some extra information from the press release:

Rare Northern California Private Press Avant Gem from 1980 Reissued For The First Time And Remastered From The Original Master Tapes.

From the moment M & R Curtis met in late 1978 in Monterey, California, it was a vibrant and inspired creative era of their lives and by May ’80 had amassed what became the two Science Fiction releases, “Terrible Lizards” and “Secret Agent Man.” The result is two inimitable records both privately released in criminally limited quantities. Distribution was limited to hand delivering copies to radio stations between Monterey and San Francisco and “droplifting” them in record shops along the way. These records have become the stuff of legend, fetching insane prices from collectors and sometimes being so rare as to completely fall through the cracks of experimental and avant pop awareness.

RIYL: Stimulus Progression label releases.

FCC CLEAN!
Recommended Tracks: 1, 2

1. (4:47) ***Secret Agent Man – Brilliant outsider pop. Odd and hypnotic. The best cover I have ever heard of this classic track. Towards the end, the song get really abstract. Play it now.
2. (2:59) *Breathless – Ambient exercise. Almost aquatic. Brian Eno would be proud.