ALBUM REVIEW: Lucky Stars – The Radio Makers
THE RADIO MAKERS‘ debut album is about love, people and life. The band are based in Bristol, and have built up a lot of popularity, with fans loving their blend of pop, rock, indie, and glam. Now, after four years in the making, Lucky Stars is released into the world. It was produced by Steve Evansson, who has worked with the likes of SIOUXSIE SIOUX and THE PROCLAIMERS, and over ten songs the band take the audience on a journey of hope and love.
The unique sound is evident from the very first song, Edible Heart. The funky riff is so infectious, you can’t help but get up and dance to it. That said, there is also something that feels rather safe about it; it’s a fun sound, but it sounds as if the band are just getting warmed up. The 80s-inspired Echoes is more adventurous in its instrumental, while the vocals are fantastic on both songs and crucially not drowned out by the instruments. It is also cool that no two songs sound the same. Jo is a slow-tempo grunge-influenced song, whereas Song For Rainy Afternoons is a fast-paced rock song. Whilst each song has its own identity, the overall pacing of the album is solid.
The main issue with the album however is that each song sounds like it could have been so much more than it is. Of course, this is the band’s debut release; it’s still early days for them, and if they were to experiment too much on this one, then it might not connect well with audiences, but it would probably help if they did at least a little as the album can become a bit monotonous at points.
It gets better though; I’m A Poseur shows what happens when the band let go and have fun. It’s a joyous, upbeat and fun song that sounds like the band are embracing their true self and it is definitely the highlight of the record. The second half of the album is generally an improvement on the first too; the title track may be a dip in energy, but with songs like I’m A Tribute (To Me) – a fast-paced punk rock song – this slight issue is easy to forgive. Closer Talk About You is also a slow and gentle song that could have slowed the album down, but fortunately it is simply a gorgeous sounding track that signals the end of the journey that the band have taken the audience on.
Like any debut album, Lucky Stars is not perfect. It sounds restrained, as if the band aren’t allowing their true sound to stick out, but it is still early days and they have plenty of time to improve. It can also be very exciting when the band really let go and have fun, and the second half is a large improvement upon the first, which helps the album a lot. The overall pacing is consistent, despite the songs having different sounds, and ultimately this is still an exciting debut from a new band who could one day take the world by storm.
Rating: 7/10
Lucky Stars is set for release on August 7th via self-release.
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