aaamusic | On 24, Jul 2011

Austin’s band Ringo Deathstarr release a compilation of early demos and songs, when the band was still looking for their path. In Sparkler, Kevin Shields and Jim Reid walk through the parks of Glasgow and New York talking about the good old times when guitars were distorted and the audience complaining about ear-bleeding.

 

Ringo Deathstarr may well be the umpteenth band attempting to emulate the shoegazing guitars of My Bloody Valentine and the noise pop of Jesus and Mary Chain.  This attempt, we may argue, comes way after the time limit. In fact, when bands such as The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, M83, Joy Zipper, and LSD And The Search For God managed to revitalise the genre with a personal touch (especially TPOBPAT), Ringo Deathstarr show here their initial limits in terms of composition and originality.

 

Said that, we’re still talking about a re-issue, so we shouldn’t be too harsh with RD. Sure enough, these songs are perfectly arranged, ethereal and fuzzy. Summertime is the lecture that Vivian Girls should have attended long time ago. Closing Your Town is a jewel between Broadcast and Beach House.

 

What seems unexplainable is the timing of this release. Sparkler could sound superfluous in a moment when shoegaze is everywhere, and thanks to the likes of Ulrich Schnauss has broken the barriers even towards electronics. I guess it doesn’t matter though, since I can’t help listening to Sparkler again and again, and when shoegaze is dead, shoegazers are alive and kicking!

 

Author: Lorenzo Coretti