ThisIsTheMusic

The Electric Stars are a rocknroll band from Salford, Manchester, with their roots, inspiration and influence firmly in the camps of The Who, The Stones, Led Zeppelin and the Britpop era to name just a few.

Velvet Elvis:The Only Lover Left Alive (the forming of two songs from the album) is the bands first album since 2012 and is one of those rare breeds in modern music. Not only is it a full length album, but it also a concept album, something that this writer last saw, when indie rockers Reverend and the Makers released Mirrors.

Anyway I digress. The album tells the story of a front man, his experiences of being in a band, making it big and somehow managing to make it through the otherside! The album does have a spiritual feel with some of the lyrics and references, but it’s totally up to you the listener how you take this.

Each song has so many layers, sounds and takes you on a psychedelic journey of discovery.

Track 1, Velvet Elvis, covers, funk, pop, soul, rock and everything in between. It comes in at over 9 minutes long, but the tone of the album is set.

Electric Stardust, starts off with a flurry of acoustic riffs, is uplifting and has a really catchy chorus.

“My Imagination is limitless”

Sunshine starts off with a great heavy rocknroll riff and showcases craftsmanship of uplifting lyrics and excellent guitar riffs and musicianship. This is of my personal highlights on the album.

“Let The Sunshine in, let it fill your soul”

Pop Star is another personal highlight from the album. This instantly reminds me of Swedish rockers Sound Track of our Lives, early Primal Screen and the chorus of Step Out by Oasis. The guitars drive the song along and has a really catchy chorus. The song takes a pop at the reality show culture that exists today (something I’m firmly in agreement with!)

“Pop Stars if you really want it we can make you on TV”

Suicide is the albums first ballad and is another great track. The acoustic guitar is perfect with the Spanish guitar riff exemplary. The lyrics are deep and moving.

“Suicide Man, you’ve got the world in your hands”

Everything Everyone starts off with the sound of the waves crashing and is a mid-tempo rocker and features a organ solo. The sort of song you can see gig fans swaying from side to side with lighters in the air.

Precious, is the most Manchester sounding song on the album, with a nod in particular to The Charlatans. Groovy piano on this song and a great guitar riff half way through the song.

“Jesus, can’t you control your sister?” “She’s outrageous and I can’t resist her”

The Only Lover Left Alive, screams late 60s and could have been written by the likes of Davies or Marriot. There’s a great guitar riff throughout the song and the drums bounce along, giving the song a real energetic feel. This would be a real crowd pleaser.

“I wanna be your lover”

Loaded with Regrets, brings the pace right down and is a song looking back on a lost love and the rocknroll excess of our frontman.

“She’s the women that I’ve been wanting all my life, now I’ve broken everything, so I’m lying here, drowning in my beer, smoking cigarettes loaded with regrets”

I Left My Soul Out In The Rain, an actual choir features throughout this song, which gives the song a different feel to anything else on the album.

“I Left My Soul Out In The Rain, I’m oblivious to the pain, I’m not sick and scared no more”

We Love You, hits you instantly as a rocknroll banger. The guitar riffs and drums really drive the song forwards and give it is energetic feel. The guitar solo will have you playing air guitar along.

“We Love You, we need you, we want you,”

The last song on the album is Impossible Odds (Rock n roll Saved Me), a brilliant closing song, mid-tempo in pace, a reflective song, which is effectively saying that music and rocknroll saved me from going down the wrong path.

“And if the sky falls down on my head, my soul will rise and carry the dead, live everyday a good man once said”

In the words of frontman, Jason Edge says, this album is full of

“Beautiful Music for Beautiful People”

To hear the album in full, head on over to Spotify or alternatively you can buy a copy from the bands website here The Electric Stars.

You can follow the band on their Facebook page.