Album Review: Starling - Semaphore

“All alone again,” laments Sydneysider Simon Starling, the singer, guitarist and songwriter for his self-named band, Starling, at the beginning of I Want To Love. It's a rather maudlin introduction to the album Semaphore, and while it doesn't strictly set the bar mood-wise, the remaining tracks don't stray too far from a generally subdued vibe. Thankfully though, Starling manages to keep things from being downright depressing, choosing instead to go down a dreamy, atmospheric path, using melancholy to surprisingly good effect.

It isn't until you reach Greenfields, one-third of the way through Semaphore, that you realise just how much (and how subtly) you've been pulled in by its charm. By the time you reach Lonely Doll and the very beautiful Bull By The Horn, you are completely sold. The icing on the cake is the almost painfully sublime album closer Nightfall.

This record is the result of Starling's collaboration with his good friend and Devoted Few bass player Wesley Gregorace. In fact, it is thanks to Gregorace that Steve Kilby (The Church) reportedly offered to produce the album after he played him a tape of the songs in demo form. Kilby is not the only high profile musician associated with Semaphore, with Davey Lane (The Pictures/You Am I), Tim Powles (The Church) and Jorden Brebach (Sparkadia), to name a few, contributing towards the album. It's likely their involvement will garner a lot of attention, however, it would be unfair to focus on that basis alone as it is the strength of the songwriting that deserves the focus.

Semaphore, to its credit, is by no means a happy album; it strikes further than that, exploring deeper emotions, resulting in a heartfelt and beautiful collection of songs that should not be ignored.