Stars, Rocks and Cars

Concept and analysis

During 2024 - 2025, I composed a diverse range of material, releasing everything individually as singles. I hadn't thought far enough ahead about wanting to put together a new album, though it eventually became apparent that, due to the excellent quality of the material, I would need to do this before moving on to my next project. The concept of 'Stars, Rocks and Cars' is loosely based around the idea of each word in the title representing one or more of the tracks from the album. The word 'stars' perhaps represents the opening track, 'Night Drive Through My City Notorious', though this composition could just as easily be connected with the word 'cars', of course. 'Drive Boy 9000', has an obvious 'car' connection, as does 'Hep Cat Alley' with the concept of the night. The word 'rock' is a more complicated affair. Yes, it can mean physical rocks, as represented on the album's cover, and this could relate to the 'Neo Western' track, 'That's it for the Badlands'. But rock is obviously also a musical genre, and this would be represented in tracks such as 'Star-Spangled Alice', or, to a lesser extent, 'Karma on a Shoestring'. The atmospheric soundscape, 'Church of the False Martyr', is certainly a 'night' track, as too, the moody 'LA Suburbs'. While many of the other compositions don't necessarily fall into any particular category, as a whole, the album works for me.

The opening track, 'Night Drive Through My City Notorious', is a thumping, jazz-tinged night drive through the city of your choice. Grand piano and growling saxophone take the lead, with urgent, jagged rhythms giving way, at intervals, to quieter passages of muted trumpet and woodwind - and, later, electric piano and strings. Always prevalent, the saxophone parts are eventually joined by electric guitar, organ and further brass arrangements. Overall, I think the composition has a strong retro feel, making this one of my favourite tracks on the album. 'Pineapple Bird', the next piece, takes simple, overlaid electric guitar riffs, and blends them with some sweet Farfisa organ. The resulting composition is both pleasant and and tuneful to the ear. 'Dawn Wine on the Metropolitan Line' begins with a train-like arpeggiator rhythm, over which is played a simple piano tune. A violin arrangement with horn and choir soon blend in, producing an ever blossoming 'dawn chorus'. 'That's It for the Badlands' is a Neo Western soundtrack theme. Acoustic guitar, courtesy of the Epiphone Dove, is supplemented by several layers of tight electric guitar work. Distorted lead guitar adds to the proceedings, as does some excellent electric slide guitar during the coda. 'Erin of the Faraway Fields' takes a mysterious synthesizer prelude, adds a little flute flurry, before a volley of tubular bells is joined by some cool Hammond organ breaks. A poignant piano tune is finally supplemented by a solo woodwind section. The next track, 'Star-Spangled Alice', is one of my heaviest 'rock-out' compositions. I put my Epiphone Les Paul through a Big Muff distortion pedal, and just let rip. It's raw and saturated, but such a great track. 'Hep Cat Alley' is slick and jazz-tinged, while 'LA Suburbs' creates a moody, and somewhat sad, night time soundscape set within the suburbs of Los Angeles. An illicit love affair is in the air, and all is not harmonious! 'Karma on a Shoestring' combines a perky woodwind section with some choice rock guitar. Otherworldly sitar refrains fill in the gaps, creating a most unique composition. In the next track, 'Lime Green and the Budi Man', we find some free form jazz guitar trying to be too clever for its own good. The resulting improvised track is both fascinating and mind-blowing. 'Drive Boy 9000' is totally synth-based, and very fluid, putting the Yamaha MODX synthesizer to devastating use. The final track on the album, 'The Church of the False Martyr', is a unique soundscape that wouldn't sound out of place in a horror movie. Ethereal choirs, church bells, otherworldly voices, and organ are very much on top on the menu here!

Instrumentation

• Korg R3 synthesizer

• Expressive E OSMOSE synthesizer

• Korg M50 synthesizer

• Yamaha MODX6 synthesizer

• Epiphone Dove acoustic guitar

• Hartwood resonator guitar

• Epiphone Les Paul electric guitar

• AFQ Pro electric guitar

• Fender electric bass guitar

• Jackson electric bass guitar

• Boss RC-10R Rhythm Loop Station

• Boss Dr Rhythm drum machine

Finished product

'Stars, Rocks and Cars' contains twelve single releases from 2024 - 2025. This material represents some of my best recent compositions. I thought the finished product was excellent. A striking cover design by artist Toby French also went a long way to making this one of my best album releases. Despite the material having already been released as singles, I think the track listing holds up pretty well, and sounds good as a unified whole. I thought the sound production was top notch, making this an ideal candidate for a future CD release.