by Dan Goldin (@post_trash_)
Seattle’s Star Party recently announced their full length debut, Meadow Flower, due out March 11th via Feel It Records and Tough Love Records, sharing the first single, “Push You Aside,” a perfect introduction to the duo’s sugary noise. Carolyn Brennan and Ian Corrigan (Gen Pop, Vexx) are making a saccharine sweet racket, expanding on their great demo EP, combining sun-spotted shoegaze, raw distortion, and upbeat jangle to create a fully realized debut that ranks among the best we’ve heard so far this year. Mixed and mastered by Sweeping Promises’ Caufield Schnug, the record definitely occupies a similar a sonic space as their label-mates, with lo-fi hiss and crackle the perfect accompaniment to their thick wall of sound. It’s a unique ability to make songs that rip this hard feel this catchy and accessible.
“Shot Down” is the album’s second single, a rapid fire blast of feedback riddled psych-pop. Despite the song’s hurried tempo, this one feels like classic jangle pop at its core, reminiscent of a grittier version of the band’s noted influences, The Shop Assistants and Black Tambourine in the sing-song melody. The pacing is fast and the layered distortion is thick, bringing the band’s punk pedigree into focus even as they swarm their way into our hearts. It’s big on sunshine from the song’s opening lyrics to the hyper bounce of the melody and twee charm, all running headfirst into noise pop splendor. The video, directed by the band’s own Carolyn Brennan and Sophie Hendry, is built on stop-motion claymation capturing the album’s cover art in motion as well as some singing and smoking.