Lab
Partners - Review for Daystar:
Daystar’s
sound sure to please
Lab Partners
Daystar
Big Beef/BMI
4 stars
Lab Partners’ dreamy compilation, Daystar, is an eclectic mix
of loops and swirls that is sure to please. This “space rock”
act has been likened to The Verve, The Doves and Radiohead. I personally
hear a slight Sunny Day Real Estate influence in some of the tracks,
especially “Still Shine On.” Most wouldn’t notice
the absence of a bass guitar in this quartet, but I think the lower
keyboard notes and the proliferation of bass drumming makes up for this
instrument.
The first track of the album, “Gold,” is an almost acoustic
piece that is simple, folky and put together well. Lab Partners’
space rock begins to show the more you listen to the CD, making what
seems to become a little path to the band’s world. This is a nice
touch for the Lab Partners and makes the listening experience truly
worthy of our time.
The band takes a laid-back approach with this album while still keeping
the integrity of the music and keeping me interested, which is something
I truly admire. Its sound is comparable to several acts, yet does not
mimic any of them, which is also worthy of mention.
I never could put my finger on just who the Lab Partners sound like,
mostly because they sound so original. “Furthest From Love”
is one of my favorite tracks on the album. The song begins with a dreamy
intro and ambles to the lyrics, “Don’t think that time can
repair me, you’ve blown it, you know it/Know in your heart that
you took this family apart.” A bit depressing, but since the lyrics
are practically indecipherable, the music takes precedence over them.
The song itself is like an exploration of rock and sound, going from
dreamy to angry to spacey.
If lying around on a rainy day listening to moody music is your bag,
I definitely recommend you try doing it while the Lab Partners are on
your CD player. Daystar is even great to fall asleep to, as I have done
several times. Whatever you choose to do while listening to this album,
I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
— Terry Martinez