Member Since: 7/10/2005
Band Website: goldstargirl.com
Band Members: {[labrynt]} vox/guitarsometimes:
{[anna arvin]} cello/ keyboard/vox
once upon a time:
{[big rich]} drums/guitar/singing saw
{[karl franz]} drums/ bass
{[wildenhaus]} electric piano/lap steel
Influences: our friends &~in no particular order~ syd barett, kevin barnes (of Montreal), jeff mangum (nuetral milk hotel), brian wilson, the rachels, neil young, throwing muses, pj harvey, slint, sebadoh, joni mitchell, tom waits, blonde redhead, jem and the holograms, yes, the softies, the louvin brothers, stephin merritt, shellac, jan and dean (and jil gisbson), grandaddy, freakwater, the elephant six collective, debussy, david lynch, octavio paz, gabriel garcia marquez, philip k. dick, terry gilliam, egon schiele, and so much more.
Sounds Like: "Goldstar's Labrynt McLaughlin has a wavering head voice that's just perfect for the hymn-like songs on the duo's CD, I Wish You All The Happiness You Allow Yourself."Time Out New York November 10-16, 2005 Issue 528"In Bellingham's male dominated, testosterone fueled music scene the kinder, gentler Goldstar duo plays beautiful, understated pop songs. Fronted by Labrynt's haunted voice and carefully crafted lyrics (both of which sticks with you after the last note fades) and backed up by Rich who plays as many as three instruments during a single song (it is a neat trick to pull off live and Rich does it impressively) the pair are proof that good music is not always about decibles and debauchery."Carey Ross~ What's Up! Magazine, August 2002"[Goldstar's music is] beautiful and brilliant, and could be said to stem from pop elements of such labels as Elephant Six and Kindercore and today's lo-fi brand of homemade purity. Labrynt is a great singer with a confident and powerful presence that is hard to ignore. [Her vocals have] a stark and honest beauty and [it is] eerie [the] way her croons creep into your heart and tug at some of your darker loves and reflections."Matt Fuller~ The Bellingham Weekly, October 2003"As good as Labrynt McLaughlin's voice is, and as interesting as Rich Canut's instrumentation gets, it's her lyrics that give the duo an intoxicating listen. McLaughlin's got a knack for word spinning. And not a work of it rings self indulgent. Better yet, as smart as Goldstar's songs seem, they are equally effecting. Partly it's McLaughlin's voice. She works it to perfection."Tony Stasiek~ The Bellingham Herald Take Five, August 22nd, 2002
Record Label: first lp on Lightpost; none at the moment
Type of Label: Indie