Starflyer 59

Item: Talking Voice vs. Singing Voice
Author: Jonathan Avants

Talking Voice vs. Singing Voice

(2005)

Reviewed by Jonathan Avants

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Label Tooth & Nail RecordsThe Phantom Tollbooth2005

alternative rock dream pop indie rock shoegaze

Starflyer 59 has quite a respectable history behind them--they're one of the oldest acts still signed on Tooth and Nail Records. They've released over a dozen records including multiple EP's, a compilation dual-disc set, and now nine LP's, and they've switched and progressed their style nearly as often. It's possible for a band, after so much time and development and so many records, to have run out of ideas, to have tapped all their artistic worth, to have run out of steam. In the case of Starflyer 59 though, the sky seems to be the limit. They've done so much and been around for quite some time, yet they still sound fresh, capable and interesting.

Their latest effort, Talking Voice Vs. Singing Voice, is yet another stylistic shift. Utilizing string arrangements and various synth effects to back up and carry Jason Martin's slightly quirky, often somber, and almost always creative song writing, this new disc sounds like a cross between the romantic harmonies of 2001's Leave Here a Stranger and the darker production of 2003's Old. But unlike some of Starflyer's previous material, which was sometimes lethargic and thick like peanut butter in its production, this new disc manages to sound exciting and unrestricted, yet impressively refined. Talking Voice could be the most perfect example of the signature Starflyer style--this is 'night-time' music, with dreamy yet interesting melodies, a dark yet exciting production and sound, and do I have to even mention the cover artwork? Gorgeous.

The string arrangements aren't merely tossed in the background to evoke base emotion like they are in so much of popular music; the strings here have their own integral role in these songs, often carrying the entire track on their own. The strings spiral, dive, sparkle and soar, perfectly intertwining with Lenz's rhythmic, calculated drumming and Martin's tasteful guitar lines. The synth effects add another layer of depth to the record, and are quite prominent in some songs - including the danceable "Good Sons," one of the most purely entertaining songs Jason Martin has ever written.

While Talking Voice may be Starflyer's darkest record yet, it's also one of their most faith-affirming. In multiple tracks, Martin sings openly for direct help from God: "Can you look around/ For hope cuz I need it now/ Jesus Christ, please help me cuz I'm lonely..." he sings in "Good Living." Songs of losing, of death, of the struggle with evil--it's pretty dark stuff. But Martin takes all of it from a Christian's perspective, and the final conclusion is one of pure hope and joy: "I've got one destination/ For Jesus to come and take me home" he sings in the final track, "The Longest Line." They are dark themes, but they are also universal, and in a way, it's refreshing to hear them from a Christian's viewpoint in a Christian music industry dominated by popular acts that seem to often ignore such realistic issues. The Bible doesn't ignore such themes, so why should we?

The song writing on Talking Voice is some of their finest to date. Nearly every song is held up with a strong melody and solid hooks, all while carrying the central 'night-music' rock style effectively. The lone exception could be, rather ironically, "Night Life." The song is still interesting, with some fantastic, gorgeous strings dominating throughout, but the song doesn't seem to have as strong a melody as some of the other tracks; it feels like it might be lacking something compared to the rest of the music. But it's a case of comparing lesser-to-better, rather than bad-to-good. "Night Music" is the record's weakest track, but it's still an interesting song on its own.

Talking Voice Vs. Singing Voice is a masterpiece. Comparing it to Starflyer's previous records, it has far more interesting song writing than Leave Here a Stranger, better production than Old, and much more variation and progression than I Am the Portuguese Blues. This is Starflyer's most accomplished record to date.

4.5 tocks