Reviews
Artist:Starry Eyed & Laughing Album: Bells Of Lightning
Label: Aurora
Tracks: 11
Website: https://www.starryeyedandlaughing.com
Formed in 1973 and names for a line in Dylan's 'Chimes of Freedom', the following year, having built a reputation on the London pub rock circuit, with the line-up of Tony Poole, Ross McGeeney, Nick Brown and Iain Whitmore, they were signed to CBS and released their self-titled debut album, their chiming 12 string sound seeing them hailed as the British answer to The Byrds. A second album, Thought Talk, followed in 1975, the band shortly after becoming Starry Eyed before disbanding in 1976, Poole going on to become an in demand producer and, recently, one third of Wilson, Bennett and Poole.
Now he and Whitmore have revived the band as a duo, perfectly recreating the classic mid-60s sound of the early Byrds, the chiming 12-string guitar and burred close harmonies, but with all their own material. The album (the title again from 'Chimes of Freedom'), kicks off with the bassline intro and 'So You Wanna Be A Rock n Roll Star' guitar notes of 'Set Me Free From This Lost Highway' with its commentary on America and reference to David Crosby's 'Lady Of The Harbor', followed by the circling notes of 'I See My Rider' and the more Sweetheart Of The Rodeo era styled country jogging 'You Feel Like Home'.
Gem follows gem, 'All Things Lost' a slightly darker guitar, more psychedelic sound, 'Come Home' a lovely Whitmore-penned ballad sung from the perspective of an empty nest parent to their child reassuring them they'll always have a place ("I just hope you understand life won't always go to plan/We can keep your bedroom just the way it is"), while, after a nod to Crosby, along comes 'The Girl In A Gene Clark Song'. The hummed intro to Simon & Garfunkel's 'America' leads then into the glorious six-minute 'Dreamyard Angels', shifting back to jangling 'Wasn't Born To Follow' mode with 'Three Days Running', playing out with, first, the tumbling melody of 'Faith Hope and Charity', a psychedelic folk rock 'Stranger In My Time' and, finally, in an 'Everybodys Been Burned' frame of mind, the only co-write, 'Love Still Speaks Your Name'.
One of my albums of the year. 1965 and 2021.
Mike Davies
P.S. Pre-orders came with Love Song, a free bonus album (also available to buy separately) of covers Starry Eyed style, among them 'To Ramona', Jackson Browne's 'The Birds Of St Marks', John Stewart's 'Lost Her In The Sun', 'Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye', Clark's 'American Dreamer' and, of course, the Lesley Duncan title song.
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Fatea Showcase Sessions
The Fatea Showcase Sessions are a series of downloads featuring acts that we've really enjoyed and think that more people should get the chance to hear.
Pirate is the current session and features 16 fantastic artists check out the website to find out more about them and download your copy
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