Could 2004 be the year of the Irish? Having just reviewed the delightful pop album by David Kitt, I’m now listening to the second Irish album to arrive across my desk. I saw Woodstar last year supporting Maria McKee in Liverpool, and then again at Dublin’s premier Witnness Music Festival. I was impressed.

Led by Fin Chambers (vocals, guitar) this five-piece band can be placed at the glacial, darker, lo-fi end of the rock spectrum. In sonic terms, Woodstar is a cross between Coldplay, Radiohead and Mercury Rev, with a pinch of Low. They produce deeply contemplative music underpinned by strong melodies, and with that typically strong Irish way with words. In Chambers, the band possesses one of the most interesting, quality frontmen around, and if you get the chance to see the band perform live, you’ll understand what I mean. LIFE SPARKS opens with Hammond-led and gorgeous Sorry Skin. The song crawls along at snail’s pace before cranking up the tempo with an assertive drum rhythm, glorious vocal harmonies, strong melody and intense lyrics. It’s a wonderful opening and could well be one of the songs of the year. By track two, Dumb Punk Song, with its strong pop sensitivities, the band’s distinctive musical identity becomes clear.

With track three,Control, comes a supreme example of the band’s lyrical strength: “It’s a suicide way, to need to dive so low, to get so high.” It’s one of the many examples of how the band says so little but means so much… The tragedy behind the song is beautifully reflected in Chambers’ mournful vocal, and the song’s haunting, glacial ambience. With the second half of the album comes greater diversity of pace exemplified by the brooding, rocky Cold, Cold Heart, deathly paced beauty Through Our Lives, and riff-driven, rampant Can’t Let Go Of Anything.

The album closes with Time To Bleed, with its blissful harmonies (reminiscent of that wonderful band Ooberman) and dreamy, hypnotic The Sky (that finishes on a distinctly ragtime note). LIFE SPARKS reveals itself slowly but surely and will take more than one listen to fully appreciate its quality and beauty. But it’s a journey well worth taking, and with a band that I feel we’re going to see and hear a lot more of in 2004. A great start to the year and essential listening.

4.5/5