Star Maker is a four-artist band from Hamburg, Germany that offers Progressive Rock with strong Space Rock and Psychedelic influences. Their self-produced debut album “Monkey Business” was released on January 27, 2021 and contains 5 medium to long playing tracks. The opener “625” begins with a hypnotic and deep bass line, intertwined with dilated guitar arpeggios and a linear drum. The intensity increases with the passing of the minutes and the track evolves creating an atmosphere halfway between Psychedelia and Prog with the guitar becoming harder in the second part. A well constructed opening centered around the interesting guitar layers, with an intricate second part in the structure. The title track “Monkey Business” opens with a more intricate structure and also enters the first vocal section with a warm and expressive singing. The bass is deep and the drum powerful, while the guitar melodies are acidic, all enriched by the sudden tempo changes that are an added value of the song. The second part opens with an instrumental section with synthe and guitar offering good inserts, and then with the return of the vocals and the initial theme the track closes. “Obsession Blues” starts with a 70’s style guitar riff, and then with a change move the sound to calmer atmospheres with a good very intense vocal rehearsal. A crescendo track, with good guitar cues in the central and final parts, worthy of note is the singer’s performance. The shorter track of the album “Trombone Tragedy” is an intertwining of lysergic melodies that envelop us by layering and increasing in intensity with rapid changes. Mainly instrumental and with the guitar at the center of the scene, a track full of energy that brings the Psychedelic sounds of the past to the present day. Closes the disc “A Walk In The Woods” which is also the longest track, with over 8 minutes in duration. It opens with a hypnotic bass and guitar arpeggios on a slow rhythm, so the vocal enters and offers another convincing proof. A track that follows the most modern sounds of the genre, halfway between Psychdelia and Desert Rock, and then increases in intensity in the final where it closes with more acid sounds. An interesting band that manages to mix multiple genres and styles creating a good link between the sounds of the past and those of the present. The Psychedelic traits are the dominant ones, managing to insert Prog, Desert and Stoner Rock cues creating their own personal sound. The guitar is the predominant instrument, but to underline the good vocal performance and the rhythmic session that offers tempo changes and quality cues. A listening recommended for lovers of Psychedelic sounds both present and past, a band to keep an eye on even in the future.
Tracklist
1. 625 (04:49)
2. Monkey Business (06:57)
3. Obsession Blues (06:35)
4. Trombone Tragedy (04:39)
5. A Walk In The Woods (08:13)
Lineup
Benedikt / Guitar, Vocals, Synth
Daniel / Guitar, Bass, Mix, Production
Lukas / Drums
Milaim / Bass, Vocals, Guitar
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