After earning 4-star reviews from MOJO, The Times and RnR along with glowing comparisons to David Bowie, Suede and prime ‘70s art rock for their self-titled debut, KillerStar return with the release of their electrifying second album ‘The Afterglow’ on March 20thvia High Wire Records. The band today share the first taste of the record in the shape of the new single ‘So Easy’. Listen HERE. Watch the official video HERE.
KillerStar’s flair for taking sonic touchpoints from the past and recontextualising them for the present is achieved with greater confidence than ever with ‘So Easy’. Its central guitar riff sparkles like a lost favourite from the glam rock heyday accompanied by suitably stomping rhythms, while sublime female vocal harmonies from The Webb Sisters swirl around Rob Fleming’s refined lead. But just as you think you know where it’s going Mike Garson’s exquisite piano subverts the song’s direction, taking this otherwise playful track somewhere altogether more poignant. Fellow David Bowie band alumni Earl Slick doubles with Rob on Guitars and Mark Plati is on Bass.
KillerStar co-founder Rob Fleming says, ” We are excited to release So Easy, the first song from our upcoming second album. It’s an adventurous rock song, with hooks and twists and turns. Hopefully the joy and energy we had writing and playing it translates well to the listener”
‘So Easy’ provides a first window into ‘The Afterglow’. A strident expansion upon the sound that KillerStar delivered on their debut, the new record swirls at will between art rock, the sophisticated outskirts of classic rock, hook laden arena rock and adventurous psychedelia. The band’s always exemplary musicianship also particularly lends itself into their deeper voyages into progressive explorations.
Rob adds, “We were overjoyed at the great reception to our first album, fuelled by that and the energy of our live shows since I set about writing a new set of songs. The songs emerged organically and the record we feel capture the energy of our live performances well. As before it was a joy to have David Bowie band alumni Earl Slick, Mike Garson and Mark Plati throughout the album, joined by Hattie & Charley Webb (aka The Webb Sisters). We feel the album is a natural progression from the first record both in terms of the songwriting and sonically.”
Throughout the album, the core duo – Rob Fleming (vocals, guitar, synths) and James Sedge (drums) – are reunited with the David Bowieband alumni who helped make the KillerStar debut so memorable: Mike Garson (piano), Earl Slick (guitar) and Mark Plati (bass). Backing vocals are provided by The Webb Sisters, Charley and Hattie, who have previously worked with David Gilmour, Tom Pettyand Leonard Cohen. The record also features guest appearances on select tracks from Gerry Leonard (musical director and guitarist for Bowie’s ‘Heathen’ tour), Alfio Annibali (Alex Lifeson’s Envy Of None), Carey Frank (Bruce Springsteen) , Dom Beken from the KillerStar live band (Nick Mason’s Saucerful of Secrets) and their regular collaborator Emm Gryner.
‘The Afterglow’ album was written by Rob Fleming with James Sedge, and the duo produced the set alongside Dave Eringa (Manic Street Preachers, The Who) who also mixed the record. It was completed with digital mastering courtesy of Joe La Porta at Sterling Sound and vinyl mastering by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios. It was recorded between London, New York and Los Angelesduring sessions at studios including RAK, The Clubhouse, Strongroom and Dean Street Studios.
The accompanying ‘So Easy’ video images the classic ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ narrative in the present day. Najib Mutebis and Lauren Rose McGee star as the outlaw lovers, their crimes soon escalating from petty phone snatching to full-scale bank robberies. But when Bonniestrikes out alone it seems the game is up… until Clyde saves the day and allows their relationship to continue into new horizons. You might also spot some neat KillerStar easter eggs including the Sedge Bank, the Fleming Off Licence and a packet of KillerStar-branded cigarettes. The video was written, directed and edited by JJ Eringa (The Anchoress, James Dean Bradfield, Jamie Webster).
‘The Afterglow’ is available to pre-order / pre-save HERE. It will be released on limited edition vinyl as well as CD and digital formats.
KillerStar have previously sold-out all three of their headline shows at London’s 100 Club, and the band will celebrate the release of ‘The Afterglow’ by returning to the venue to play two special album launch shows on March 6th and 7th. Tickets are available HERE. Fans who attend both nights can claim a free t-shirt from the merch stand.
Their live powers have been captured with two releases, the ‘Live At The 100 Club’ album and last month’s ‘Live at NYC’ EP. They also followed their self-titled debut with ‘KillerStar Reimagined’, a collection of alternate versions, different mixes and acoustic interpretations of its song.
