Starscreen Review

Based in Nottingham, Starscreen are an energetic solid indie rock band, formed by friendship from a young age. 2005 saw the departure of their drummer, yet a replacement, was found in the summer.
From their earlier EP, featuring the tracks “Let Go” and “Pilot” it is evident that they don’t just settle for a simple power chord progression, they like to experiment with a variety of rhythms, melodies and beats. They say that each member plays an equal part, and this adds unity to the band. This is definitely the case, as each section of the band stands out, yet equally locks together to produce the catchy foot-tapping music which Starscreen are well known for.
Recently, they have recorded new songs, which are to be released on an EP later this year. “Bootcut” has a quite a Sex Pistols style rhythm, similar to the likes of Submission, however the simple rhythm is effective, especially with the “oooo” vocals at the beginning which add an alternative edge, yet catchy sing-along effect to the song. They also occur later on in the song, which adds a great background and interesting texture to the main vocals, sung by a Daz, who could be compared to the likes of Tim Burgess and Kelly Jones. The guitar solo, as pristine and precise as it in, shares a likeness with the Kinks and Small Faces. All in all, a combination of genres, which fit together well, and with a bit more work and tweaking here and there, this could turn out to be one hell of a song.
Secondly, “Strange Forces” displays a broad Stereophonics influence, especially with his style of singing and the bridge towards the end of the song, which shares the same kind of rhythm as “Superman”. What actually make this song, are the powerful strong lyrics and the experimentation with the melodies. Such as towards the end of the song, there is simply the fading echo of the guitar accompanied by a light tapping of cymbal, which provide a base for the bold vocals. The rhythm department really hold this song together, with a consistent bass rhythm and the drums which have more balls than most.
“The City Sleeps” is a fantastic acoustic song, which takes a break from the usual rock ‘n’ roll style. I can notice a slight element of “Come Together” in this song, and it also compares on the same level to acoustic songs by the likes of Oasis, Paul Weller and Ocean Colour Scene. However, it still features the distinguished style of Starscreen, and it shows that not only can they produce great guitar rock, but also chilled out acoustic songs. There additive melody effect throughout, the acoustic guitar being predominant, with the light beating of the drums in the background. The hand claps also add an interesting and individual approach, which really works.
Finally, “Incognito” takes a different approach to the rest of the; instead of just kicking straight into the song, there is a slight fading introduction, similar to The Killers’ “Jenny Was a Friend of Mine.” The bass really comes through in this song, carving a really catchy rhythm, which is emphasised by the drums. It isn’t just a continuous dreary song either, different parts of the band drop out in various parts, revealing different melodies which may not have been heard before. As said before, Daz’s style of singing can be compared to Tim Burgess. I feel that this is the case in this song, which takes on board elements of The Charlatans. The guitar solo at the end also remains tight to the rest of the band, and fades into a repetitive rhythm which finishes off the song completely.

Nikki Dunbar