A Very Special Episode: But I’m a . . . Starr
EWEL Records
Brooklyn rock trio A Very Special Episode (AVSE) have released their new single But I’m a . . . Starr, alongside the announcement of their forthcoming self-titled EP, AVSE, set for release July 31st.
Opening with a crisp, boxy rimshot and muted bass line, intercut with telephone touch tones and the unmistakable hiss and crackle of a dial-up internet connection, But I’m a . . . Starr sets a sense of anticipation before the band launch into a pleasingly intense and fuzzy wall of grinding guitar tones splashing cymbals immediately comparable to Jack White.
Settling into the lulling tempo of the verse as the soaring vocals of bassist and lead vocalist Kasey Heisler, the track settles into its rhythm before exploding into another wall of sound. Third time around this wall of sound becomes the backbone for the anthemic, visceral chorus as Heisler’s vocals surge through the track’s momentum with unmistakable conviction, rising to screams above and relentless wall of guitars and punching drums.
Accompanied by an equally explosive video, in which the band perform live before descending into anarchy as the guitarist, drummer and the video director fight before collapsing in pools of blood and the vocalist enacts a pagan ritual, the track is given a fitting visual aid.
https://youtu.be/-1FSuUzAUc8?si=lObOjDThi8ilWqOj
Immediate, physical, and unapologetically loud, the track is a brilliant example of the bands capabilities, giving an accessible thanks to the vocal melodies and a gritty, alternat8ive intensity through the driving guitar work.
“We only realized after tracking how much Weezer’s ‘Beverly Hills’ must have been a subconscious influence,” the band say. “‘But I’m a . . . Starr’ is about the anxieties of being in a working DIY band more than anything else.”
The single serves as the opening statement for AVSE, the band’s forthcoming self-titled EP and their sharpest work to date. What began as early sketches for a third full-length gradually crystallised into five tracks that work best together as a focused statement. AVSE captures the band at their most direct, stripping away anything unnecessary and turning up everything that matters.
The band have established themselves as one of Brooklyn’s most dependable live acts, a reputation that has seen them play shows at SXSW, the East Coast, the UK, and Japan.
But I’m a . . . Starr is out now. The AVSE EP follows July 31st.
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All words by Simon Lucas-Hughes. More writing by Simon Lucas-Hughes can be found at his author’s archive.
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