As a generation of young artists comes of age in the Spotify era, weâre going to be hearing a lot more bands like Little Star. The new self-titled sophomore album from this Portland group evinces a very modern musical restlessness spawned from the absorption of a few dozen variations on the indie and post-punk milieu and an unwillingness to let one particular strain be the presiding influence over their own work. Dan Byers (vocals/guitar), Julian Morris (vocals/bass), and Sonia Weber (drums) see no compunction in fusing a dreamy Faith-era Cure mood to the spoken word mumblings and agitated yelping of Slint, as they do on âImprov,â or introducing math rock time signatures into the pop jangle of âI Just Wanna Lie.â
With its many musical juxtapositions, Little Star can be a nervy record. And thatâs before taking into consideration the added layer of Byersâ distressed lyrics. After using the groupâs previous albums to wrestle with romantic entanglements, the young songwriter spends much of this record looking for some kind of internal serenity. âCalming Ritual #1â and âCalming Ritual #2â are expressions of an anxious mind that can turn a simple moment like a car merging in front of him on the highway into self-loathing of being left behind by these strangers who are obviously on to, as he sings in his pinched, quavering alto, âNew things and new streets/Better things without me.â
What peace Byers finds is in simple pleasures, like inviting a friend over to watch The Shining (âSoniaâ) or reminiscing about a pleasant drive with a friend, with the dog asleep on the backseat (âBlue Horsesâ). But even those can be undercut by agitation. The lustrous guitar and opaque memories of âHorsesâ becomes a flustered shuffle over which Byers stresses about never telling his companion his true feelings for her. âI donât know why/I never told you so,â he repeats as the music gains volume and incident. Like the lifelong labor of anyone with anxiety knows, those tranquil moments are welcome, but always temporary. The next storm waits on the horizon.