KillerStar : Ought to’ve Identified Higher

Debut Single & Video Premiere

Out as we speak

The ghost of David Bowie looms giant over the debut single by KillerStar. And no surprise – as a result of they’re a supergroup comprising a few of his closest collaborators. So as to add to the Bowie vibe, the video for his or her first single is a little bit of a, effectively… an area oddity.

KillerStar is a brand new band led by Rob Fleming on vocals, guitar and synths and drummer James Sedge. But when they might be unfamiliar, the remainder of the group are massive names: long-time Bowie regulars Mike Garson on piano, bass guitarist Gail Ann Dorsey, plus backing singer Emm Gryner who sang and performed keyboards in his turn-of-the-century band, together with that legendary Glastonbury 2000 efficiency.

On different album tracks the band contains extra of his former sidemen: Earl Slick and Mark Plati on guitar, Tim Lefebvre on bass and Donny McCaslin on saxophone, making KillerStar a real Bowie supergroup.

Unsurprisingly, their sound is distinctively Bowiesque: crunchy energy chords main the best way right into a supremely catchy tune whose infectious hook will instantly have followers findng parallels with their late idol. Particularly the harmonies that echo Absolute Rookies – and the unmistakable piano runs by Garson that recall Aladdin Sane (the primary time he teamed up with Bowie).

As singer, Fleming sounds simply sufficient like Bowie to make the connection really feel ‘genuine’ – and simply far sufficient eliminated to be greater than a mere impersonator doing karaoke. He says of this, the primary tune to be launched: “Ought to’ve Identified Higher comprises all of the flavours of what we’re making an attempt to do. It has a rock vibe, however with hooks, ambient melodies and layered backing vocals all through. We are able to all be amazed about what we do once we put our minds to it.”

He wrote the music himself and co-produced it with Sedge, whereas the ensuing tune was combined by Dave Eringa (Manic Avenue Preachers, Idlewild), whose son JJ, a comic-book illustrator, made this sci-fi-themed video that includes clips from a few classic sci-fi films.

Curiously, the Bowie connection seems to be coincidental… virtually. Sedge and Fleming insist that, regardless of their title’s allusion to Bowie’s farewell album – and the Bowiesque sound of the music – they recorded the primary KillerStar demos with none thought as to who can be concerned.

It was solely later that they approached the musicians who’ve contributed to virtually each period of Bowie’s huge discography, from Aladdin Sane to the ultimate goodbye of Blackstar. Earl Slick says the outdated guard are simply pleased to be conserving his reminiscence alive with new music. “Since Bowie died, we’ve all gone off in several instructions, however with this album we labored on new materials and that was nice.”

Emm Gryner, a comparative newcomer to the Bowie community of musicians, provides: “The Bowie alumni have a really particular bond and we at all times will. David united us in a very particular approach, the place we spent numerous time collectively, and to have the ability to hear one another once more on this approach was distinctive. I’m certain David would have liked this album.”

I’m simply as certain. And I don’t suppose it’s stretching credibility to say it’s a music that Bowie may need included on an album of his personal, had been he nonetheless round to try this.

And oh, how we want he was.

KillerStar play an Album Launch gig at The 100 Membership, London on sixteenth March 2024.

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All phrases by Tim Cooper. Photograph by Jimmy King. Extra of Tim’s writing at his Louder Than Conflict writer’s archive and at Muck Rack. He additionally posts music day by day at EatsDrinksAndLeaves.com.

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