…And Stars Collide tread the bittersweet territory between Red Sparowes and Explosions in the Sky, with their eyes on the stars and legs knee-deep in sludge. They boast the better, less pretentious parts of post-rock, with both excellent guitar harmonies in their more vulnerable moments and much vision spent on their darker moments. Much like the Sparowes, the bassist plays a more prevalent role in the overall sound, providing a technical role as opposed to merely fleshing out the background.
Starting off triumphantly and consistently heavy for what seems like an eternity, the band get right down to business with When Our Eyes First Met. It’s a step in the right direction, with the band coming into their own sound and becoming more comfortable with themselves. After the barrage of noise and riffing comes a slow and sensitive arpeggiated wind-down. It’s most definitely welcome too, providing yan to the ying of the song’s former half.
Every Step Takes Me Further From Home (Part II) smacks of 'How Strange, Innocence' era Explosions...It’s a great song that gets heavier than a titanium Samoan in places, but it’s territory that’s oft-explored by many post-rock bands. The new kind of heaviness they’ve found in their opus of an opener, however, could become a trademark they may embrace over time (and rightly so). Bands evolve, and these guys will do it to great effect if left to their own devices.
The Sky Weeps and Stars Collide, the band’s namesake and self-confessed ‘old, old song’ provides relaxation and discomfort in equal measures. Droning guitar lines drenched in delay mark the beginning before the inevitable crescendo. It’s a great song that poses as a footnote in the band’s history, one that I feel they should look upon with pride.
Closing song Your Winter and Night Spent in Disguise builds up with a very professional demeanour. This band has practiced and looked over their work with a fine comb and done all they can to iron out any possible kinks in structure, and it really shows. Composing a reasonably long post-rock song that doesn’t meander is no easy task by any means, but …And Stars Collide pull it off very well.
…And Stars Collide are essential viewing for any dedicated post-rock fan. Nottingham may just be the birthplace of one of the more successful and less obscure bands in the genre, and I for one wish them all the best.
...And Stars Collide played at Rock City on Thursday 30 April 2009. Their self-titled EP is available via their MySpace page.
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