Consuming the Tangible

I can’t remember for the life of me where or how I discovered Star Period Star. Or how I wound up with the CD of their fifth studio album, Twilight Saving Time. Maybe it was Sea of Tranquility reviewing it on their YouTube channel; maybe it was elsewhere. And maybe it was a case of the difference in price between the digital download and the CD justified retaking the plunge and grabbing a CD. Whatever the reason, grab it I did, listened once, and promptly forgot about it in the rushing onslaught of releases and reissues. This morning I brewed some piping hot coffee and did some dedicated listening. Good stuff, modern and poppy with hints of ’70s vintage and ’80s neo prog that despite some small reservations works as a fun diversion from the same old bands doing the same old thing.

The Savannah, Georgia, quintet has been around since the mid ’90s, and despite Twilight Saving Time being only their fifth full-length, it’s a companion piece to their previous album, 2018’s Daylight Saving Time. Splitting its time evenly between vocal tracks and instrumentals, the biggest comparison I can think of is an Americanized version of bands like Marillion and IQ, one foot in the old world and one in the new.

There’s a definite pop element on the vocal tracks; after the cool opening instrumental “Jefferson and Lewis’s Artichokes,” guitarist and vocalist Dan Sweigert brings a unique voice to “All on Fire.” I get a little Andy Tillison/Tangent in his delivery – it takes a little to get used to; the production is a bit lacking, and his vocals feel pasted on top of the arrangements instead of integrating nicely in the mix. It’s a small complaint, one that rears its head on “Poison Squad” and especially “Caipirinha Hangover” but the touch of humor and excellent musicianship balances it just enough to make them work.

Ok, maybe not “Caipirinha Hangover” but I personally dig the vibe they go for on it, so it works for me.

What’s not in question is the quality of the musicianship on display in the instrumentals. “Fraid Not” has a nasty twisted riff that roils against the percussive stabs of piano and drums, and the massive acoustic “Albright, Mather” features some great jams and solos, making it a highlight of Twilight Saving Time. “TDC” gets spectral in away that reminds me of In A Silent Way, and segues nicely into “Means of Production” before ending with the title track.

Fun stuff. I heard the previous album leaned a little more aggressive, so I plan to check that out at some point. In the meantime, Star Period Star has enough going for them I’m looking forward to hear whatever happens next.