Starcleaner Reunion by @natureandtrailsidecenter
In the decades since Stereolab emerged, there haven’t been many acts that you could say are reminiscent of their distinctly airy yet intricate style of Europop. That all changes when you hear the beautiful work of Starcleaner Reunion, who will be making their Florida debut as Bumblefest headliners.
Five New Jersey high school friends who moved to New York City, Starcleaner Reunion have a bit of Stereolab’s multilingual streak, although Spanish, not French, is their second language on tracks like the trippy “Que Dices.” But the Francophone influence is there.
“Our friends in France are a huge inspiration as well,” guitarist Neil Torman tells PureHoney. “Musique Chienne/Userband, Jazz Lambaux, Sticky World and the community at Cyberrance to name a few are making such vibrant and unique stuff, both musically and visually.”
New York itself is another source of inspiration. ”Being able to hear so much live music all the time and seeing a really good show always makes me want to go home and write something new right away,” Torman says.
2023 saw Starcleaner Reunion release a five-song EP, Club Estrella, and a double-single “Ribbon Le Chou”/“Moss on my Brick Wall.” They plan to put out another EP before the New Year.
“Typically someone will have a rough idea for a song and send over a demo, then we’ll flesh it out in person with everyone adding their own parts,” Torman says of the band’s creative process. “We’ll tweak it as needed until it’s feeling right. Some songs evolve a lot from the base idea and some change very little.”
“We record everything ourselves,” Torman adds. “Drums get recorded at our rehearsal spot and basically everything else is done at our apartments. We’ll meet up at someone’s place for an afternoon and track guitars in the living room or set up a vocal mic in the closet.”
Bumblefest, along with being Starcleaner Reunion’s first proper festival, will coincide with Torman’s birthday. He promises that after an overdose of birthday cake, “I’m sure the energy will be up.”
Bumblefest is Sept. 6 and 7 in downtown West Palm Beach. bumblefest.com starcleanerreunion.bandcamp.com ~ David Rolland
