
Star Maker is a 4-piece band from Hamburg, Germany that plays Progressive and Psychedelic Rock sounds and that we have come to appreciate with their debut, which was positively reviewed on our pages. The new album “Ein Gutes Buch” was released on November 08, 2024 and contains 7 tracks ranging from over 4 to over 8 minutes in length. The opener “Hello Blue Sky” is a long track exceeding seven minutes in length, featuring an intro with keyboard and guitar interlacing. The rhythm section is solid and elaborate, with deep, load-bearing bass lines, allowing instrumental and vocal parts to develop. The vocals are dynamic and expressive, with a modern and personal timbre, interpreting the lyrics with intensity. The instrumental sections enhance the band’s compositional and performing technique, with keyboards in evidence in the solo inserts. Indie Rock and Psychedelia come together in “Ein Gutes Buch,” a track with a prominent bass line and keyboards and guitar working in the background over solid drumming. The intensity increases as the minutes go by, and in the middle section the band alternates between heavier passages and melodic openings with the lead guitar in evidence. The vocals are warm and expressive in the second part, which evolves with a more heavy-sounding instrumental section, concluding in a musical crescendo. The album’s shortest track “Gute Gene, Sportsfreund” is a concentrate of technique and engaging textures. The vocals and upbeat melodies accompany us during the verses, and then get enriched by tempo changes and Indie and Prog sounds, with an original style and an interesting instrumental section. Cleverly, the band evolves the central theme of the song by incorporating elements of Jazz to the already personal sounds. Arpeggios enriched by effects create a repetitive and hypnotic melody in the intro of “All Monkeys Are Gone,” to which drumming and a supporting bass line are added. Spoken vocals characterise the first part of the song, in a crescendo that leads into a brave but energetic instrumental section. The vocal returns for the last verses and through the cosmic sounds and atmospheres of the song, the band gently accompanies us towards the finale. A beautiful journey through another facet of the band’s suond, concluding in a crescendo with more Heavy traits. A background of organ and a layering choral vocal characterises the intro of “If I Could Only Remember Your Name,” repeating its title. Acoustic guitar and keyboards evolve this more experimental and delicate track, with the vocal interpreting the lyrics and adding a melancholic touch. In the second part, delicate drumming and a bass line are inserted and with the melancholic atmospheres permeating the sound, the track slowly flows towards the finale. “The Life And Death Of A Narcissist” is a Progressive Rock track that opens with solid guitar riffs and a granitic rhythm section. Effects enrich the sound, as does the dynamic vocal, which interprets the entire track with its own personal touch. The sound evolves, incorporating more Psychedelic elements in the second part, developing a prolonged instrumental section with the guitar protaginist of layering and solo inserts. The album ends with the longest track, “Act Accordingly,” over eight minutes long. An intro with intertwining guitar and bass arpeggios and keyboards in the background, then the drumming kicks in and the theme evolves into melodic progressive sounds. The vocal offers a good test, with choral refrains and enveloping and well interpreted verses, following the continuous tempo changes that characterise the song. A good example of modern Progressive Rock, intense and involving, enhancing both the vocal and compositional and performing skills of the band with a proof of absolute value. A good album for this band that confirms expectations after the good things heard in the debut, offering a mature work with personal traits. Originality in the sound is a strong point for this band, which manages to break out of the classic canons of the Prog and Psychedelic genre, building its own personal style. An intense tracklist from start to finish, with a good alternation of vocals and intense instrumental parts that enhance the band’s songwriting and technique. A recommended listen for lovers of modern Rock sounds, offering a fresh and original blend of Prog, Psychedelia.
Tracklist
01. Hello Blue Sky (07:42)
02. Ein Gutes Buch (05:52)
03. Gute Gene, Sportsfreund (04:40)
04. All Monkeys Are Gone (04:52)
05. If I Could Only Remember Your Name (05:44)
06. The Life And Death Of A Narcissist (06:01)
07. Act Accordingly (08:38)
Lineup
Benedikt / Guitar, Vocals
Daniel / Guitar, Keys
Lukas / Drums
Milaim / Bass, Vocals