THE BLACK STARS – Elementary

If good things take time then ‘Elementary’, the debut album from Byron Bay’s The Black Stars, should be brilliant.  After a two-year gestation, the three-piece unleash ten tracks in less than 35 minutes, taking listeners through four-on-the-floor dance beats to relentless chain-sawing guitars.

The Black Stars are no stranger to the industry, with national radio and television play on Triple J and Rage, main stage festival slots on Splendour in the Grass, Devil’s Kitchen, Cruelty Free, Mazstock and shared stages with Helmet (US), Magic Dirt, The Celibate Rifles, Giants of Science and more.

The band’s first two EPs were recorded with Phil McKellar of Grinspoon, Spiderbait and Silverchair notoriety.  For ‘Elementary’ they worked with Magoo, whose wall of fame includes Regurgitator, Powderfinger, Gerling and Gin Club.

Writing and recording the album might have looked more like The White Stripes than The Black Stars going into the studio, although Chris Harding (guitar, vocals) and Regan Harding (drums) will tell you straight up, they are not brother and sister.  They will also tell you they are into bass.  Not letting the absence of a newly departed bass player deter them, Chris wrote and they both tracked the majority of the recording with Magoo. Further tracking was completed in their home studio below the cot of a newborn, throwing a slight delay, not of the pedal or switch variety, into the mix. Finding a bass player in the eleventh hour, Mick Prigmore contributed his trademark rolling and harmonising bass lines, cementing his place in a band that has found fans both nationally and overseas.

Belying their eclectic influences, ‘Elementary’ is exactly what the band set out to achieve. Lead single “Here Right Now” is perhaps a track most departed from what people recognise as The Black Stars.  With less distortion and more dance, the song is nevertheless something that the trio are proud to release as a first taste to be backed up by loads of grunt and attitude on following tracks.

‘We’ve been lucky to play and record with many champions of the Australian music landscape,’ appreciates Chris.  ‘With Magoo, we’ve captured ten uncomplicated tracks that together make a very special whole.  Just as music can be made as complex as life, we set out to keep things simple and herein lies the inspiration for the artwork and title Elementary.’

“The Black Stars have emerged with what is reportedly something pretty special” – TIME OFF