Starsailor was already a critic's darling in the band's native England during mid-2001, and the group's painfully melodic debut,
Love Is Here, poised the band to rise in the shadows of
Doves,
Coldplay, and
Travis.
Starsailor, however, isn't as polished as its counterparts, but that's not to say
Love Is Here isn't a beautiful piece of work. It's less lilting than
Coldplay's
Parachutes, and frontman
James Walsh's aching vocals shape his angularity as a singer/songwriter.
Starsailor is a young band, and
Love Is Here illustrates the group's sharp intellect inside basic acoustics. Singles such as the passionately violent "Alcoholic" and melancholic dark hues of "Fever" touch upon
Starsailor's own pop stylings. The band isn't typically jaunty, for the members of
Starsailor are a bit cynical. Lyrics reflect battles with self-discovery, independence, and being lovelorn; however, they're matches of a survivor. "Talk Her Down," one of the album's most gnarling tracks, bounces with light psychedelic patterns, and "Good Souls" is probably
Starsailor's closest rock & roll moment. The live soundscape found on
Love Is Here sets up the simplistic beauty of this new band. They didn't go for a grand bombast of crashing guitars and angst-ridden stories similar to
Oasis and
Manic Street Preachers. They go for something more positive as well -- each song soars with intricate musicianship and melodic lushness. Wigan native
Richard Ashcroft would be pleased. [
Love Is Here was released on LP in 2015.] ~ MacKenzie Wilson