Album Reviews
Irish Artists
THE STAR DEPARTMENT The Pea Green Boat The album opens with “Porcelain Doll” and a sense of the overbearing greets the listener. An album that opens with such a brave and bold approach will always prove to be worthy of following through and giving it a listen. The rhythm to this is very deep and then it seems to become somehow a little more orchestrated with the way that accompanying music comes into the reckoning. There is a finesse to it that is somewhat expressive and experimental in the right quantities. There are other elements to the way it sounds that seem to broaden its appeal also. The second track on the album is called “Antlers” and this is another customised tune that really grows on you. This now lets you know that the band is unafraid of exploring things musically and that the sound they have is something they believe in. There is a very grand sense to this. The guitar hooks that are carved into it merge in an elegant way with the shoe-gazer aspects found in the surrounding elements. The middle ground that the two sides meet on is something that really charms in abundance. Then on “Superhawk” their sound begins to become catchy. They also incorporate some synth into the sound and still maintain credibility. There is something about it that eases along and maintains their fresh sound while still retaining the distant ability that remains a constant in their music. The next track on the album is called “Sandcastles” and this one has some more of the same to it. There is that way that they ease into their sound while there are also strokes in the play that seem to lift it along. The brass elements incorporated into things here fill it out. They also steer it neatly in a different direction that seems to be very easy listening while still maintaining a true sense of spirit. It is a very well thought out track at the same time. With “Early Morning Runner” the strumming on the intro bests it. The patient temperament to it is very soothing and as it builds to a crescendo it tantalises as much as intrigues. It is something that is full of importance and promise in how it is played out. Then comes “All Of My Best Friends” which saunters along and as it do so entwines the playing elements. Everything about it does seem to fit in with the rest of the track
42
listing here. It also sees something on the vocals when they are shared that flirt somewhat with folk music, but still keeps it clothed in the stripped back rhythm that it has going for it. The cursive that the guitar and drum machine come in on “Stitches And Sleeves” are something that filter through it in a way that gives it definition. Then the synth elements on the sound see it come to the fore and things become very polished and broody sounding, but it still has a captivating quality about it.
“This Ship Won’t Sail” is a song that nicely comes into its own. It is easy to mistake it as a laid back tune but further inspection shows it to have something extra to it. The expected way it is all approached is competently done here. It has a charm to it while the accordion that is fed in on the sound seems to infuse a sense of folk to it. Much like how they attempted it on “All Of My Best Friends”, only this time it appears to be more successful. A stirring organ opens up “All Of The Signs” and it characterises it as a song that shows effort and consideration put together to bring forth something of true fortitude. There is a presence to it as well as essence and the two combine here to really produce something of true composure. Then the closing track on the album here in “You’ve Punctured My Lung”. This is another damn fine effort from them and it seems to have an artistic feel to it with how they cradle the musical side of it all. The pick-up on the drumming that is honed in has something to it that makes it sound very lofty indeed. The vocals on it also seem to give it a uniqueness that has real feeling to it. Then things seem to become contrasted. It becomes perky while in equal measure reserved. The result is a hollowed out sound that is somewhat introverted but still retains the qualities that have signified the interesting aspects of their sound throughout.
8