-from the Manifesto of Starling Electric
Ann Arbor’s Starling Electric will be nationally releasing their debut album, Clouded Staircase, via veteran independent label Bar/None August 19. The album was originally available locally and drew considerable acclaim from hometown media, which helped the band quickly build a loyal fan base in lower Michigan.
Recorded entirely at their own White Lodge studio, its 18 original tracks represent no less than a mission statement - or maybe a call to arms for anyone still interested in melodies, harmonies, and the power of a good pop song. Starling Electric soon caught the attention of Robert Pollard (of Guided By Voices), who invited them to open for him on an east coast tour swing. Soon after, the group was championed by Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow (Posies/Big Star) on BBC-6 Radio and their respective websites.
Starling Electric was originally a solo project by singer/songwriter Caleb Dillon that has grown into the dynamic four-piece that exists today. With Caleb on lead vocals and keyboards, SE is rounded out by producer extraordinaire Jason DeCamillis on lead guitar, John Fossum on drums, and Christian Blackmore Anderson on whatever else might be needed (rhythm guitar, keyboards, percussion). Everybody sings.
Described as "...startling and superlative orchestral pop music of the best kind", the group is a melting pot of 60s and 70s influences - the melodic harmonies of the Beach Boys, Zombies, and Byrds; the prog and art-rock exploration of Yes, 10cc, Genesis, and Elton John; the baroque craftsmanship of the Left Banke and Love; and the pomposity and swagger of The Who, Queen, and ELO. In their first two years playing together, they shared bills with Robert Pollard, The Hidden Cameras, Evan Dando, Saturday Looks Good To Me, The Sights, Canada, Great Lakes Myth Society, The Satin Peaches, and many others. They’ve headlined every major city in their home state of Michigan, including two years at the Metro Times Blowout in Detroit.
Starling Electric has been featured in magazines such as the Detroit Metro Times, Real Detroit Weekly, Lansing City Pulse, The East Lansing State News, and the Northern Michigan Express, as well as a cover story and interview in the Ann Arbor Paper and a cover feature in Lansing's Noise Magazine. They were featured and interviewed for a WDET Radio Benefit and have received an impressive amount of airplay on college radio in Detroit, Lansing, Ann Arbor, and Traverse City. SE were voted "Best Rock Artist" by the readers of the Ann Arbor Current and their song "Camp-Fire" was showcased in an episode of the UPN television series, "Veronica Mars".
"Startling and superlative orchestral pop that reminds me why I fell in love with music in the first place...Clouded Staircase is to my ears one of the best records of the modern age - a bona fide stunner."
-Jon Auer, The Posies / Big Star
"...Pop music of the best kind. Really amazing stuff. It calls to mind the greats of the 60s...Detroit might be facing a new pop renaissance..."
-www.lagerhousedetroit.com
"...This is a band people ADORE. Starling Electric's members have their hands on the stuff of which legends like Guided By Voices were made."
-Jason Gibner, The Ann Arbor Paper; April 2006
For more information contact Howard Wuelfing at Howlin’ Wuelf Media [email protected] 215-428-9119
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