While
"dance" music searches for the most mind-obliterating beat, and
"rap" raises the fist of rebellion, "rock" music which might have
once delivered those remedies for the human condition more and more
is looking into its heart. A different kind of trance. Brisbane's
Speedstar* spent the first couple of years of their existence in
hibernation, finding their sound, learning how to write songs. They
started out influenced by the Britpop of the mid-90s, and somewhere
along the line admit to being blown away by Portishead. Between
those two inspiration they' ve found a rich ground to work within.
None of it could have been if it wasn 't for the voice given to
their music by singer Alister Bell. Track after track he leaves
you marvelling at the power, variety and passion of his voice, the
kind of voice Jeff Buckley and Thom Yorke cast their respective
spells with. Speedstar* know how to get the best out of that voice,
sonicly and lyrically. The title of the album, 'Bruises You Can
Touch' and the lines in the opening song "I don't want to wake up
sad, I want to wake up with you" tell you everything. Speedstar*'s
strength is in the melancholy of their message. We've all felt like
this, will feel like this again. Concentrate on that notion, give
your singer soaring melodies, surround him with sensitive brooding
musical drama - that's Speedstar*'s melodology. For now. A couple
of the earlier songs ('Wishing My Life Away') released already on
EPs don't quite fit that picture, more like that Britpop influence.
Those moments give the album a different colour and let us know
that Speedstar* is a work in progress. The next batch of songs will
undoubtedly take us elsewhere. But in the meantime we've got this
perfect introduction to their skills, and to that voice of theirs.
Here are songs you want to hear over and over, emotional songs,
with melodies and words you're going to want to sing along to, a
record to put next to your albums by Augie March, Something For
Kate, Powderfinger, George, Radiohead and Jeff Buckley. Oh yes,
Kasey Chambers sings harmony on one track. (EMI)
While
"dance" music searches for the most mind-obliterating beat, and
"rap" raises the fist of rebellion, "rock" music which might have
once delivered those remedies for the human condition more and more
is looking into its heart. A different kind of trance. Brisbane's
Speedstar* spent the first couple of years of their existence in
hibernation, finding their sound, learning how to write songs. They
started out influenced by the Britpop of the mid-90s, and somewhere
along the line admit to being blown away by Portishead. Between
those two inspiration they' ve found a rich ground to work within.
None of it could have been if it wasn 't for the voice given to
their music by singer Alister Bell. Track after track he leaves
you marvelling at the power, variety and passion of his voice, the
kind of voice Jeff Buckley and Thom Yorke cast their respective
spells with. Speedstar* know how to get the best out of that voice,
sonicly and lyrically. The title of the album, 'Bruises You Can
Touch' and the lines in the opening song "I don't want to wake up
sad, I want to wake up with you" tell you everything. Speedstar*'s
strength is in the melancholy of their message. We've all felt like
this, will feel like this again. Concentrate on that notion, give
your singer soaring melodies, surround him with sensitive brooding
musical drama - that's Speedstar*'s melodology. For now. A couple
of the earlier songs ('Wishing My Life Away') released already on
EPs don't quite fit that picture, more like that Britpop influence.
Those moments give the album a different colour and let us know
that Speedstar* is a work in progress. The next batch of songs will
undoubtedly take us elsewhere. But in the meantime we've got this
perfect introduction to their skills, and to that voice of theirs.
Here are songs you want to hear over and over, emotional songs,
with melodies and words you're going to want to sing along to, a
record to put next to your albums by Augie March, Something For
Kate, Powderfinger, George, Radiohead and Jeff Buckley. Oh yes,
Kasey Chambers sings harmony on one track. (EMI)