Title: Moonlight
Artist: Deadstar
Genre: Electronic
Release Date: 2008
Label: None
Album Review
Francois Pouvreau gave birth to DEADSTAR in 2003. He started composing his first tracks with rather minimalist equipment. As he had no computer back then, he’s recording entirely on tape and until 2003 he created two demo releases, the second one being a CD he could realize with the help of a friend’s computer. In 2004 after recording four new tracks, he decided to put his project to sleep for personal reasons to revive it four years later.
‘Moonlight’ is a collection of his favourite tracks, featured on the two demos. The music of DEADSTAR is entirely instrumental and heavily influenced by movie scores, which becomes evident with the first introducing track right away, employing different kinds of string textures to create a dark mood, getting a monumental note with the subsequent track ‘Chaostar’ integrating chorals into its sound as well. With ‘Sandman’ a new element becomes prominent in the form of chiming bells, but the initially child-like innocence of the melodic arrangement soon looses everything of its virginity and precipitates into gloomy hopelessness with a sense of danger. ‘La Machine’ not only comes up with forceful kettle drum beats, but also brings in a Victorian somewhat medieval accent. It’s a little like travelling back in time and maybe that’s the machine the title names. The last track is opening with nothing less than the well-known theme of John Carpenter’s Halloween, but it doesn’t conjure up the same fear as the original does. Afterwards the track mixes up complementary darker and brighter moods with the help of strings.
As much as I like such sound track inspired works, the outcome in this case is hardly more than standard and there’s still much to work on, most of all regarding the diversity. Francois has nevertheless a good sense for melody and some songs on the CD are really nice, but overall it sounds a little monotonous with the ever same synth sounds in different variations. But potential is definitely there.
Tracklist
01. Introduction – 2:00
02. Chaostar – 1:40
03. Dusk – 1:30
04. Labo 16 – 1:01
05. Sandman – 2:29
06. La Machine – 1:58
07. After War – 2:51
08. Fantasma – 2:48
09. The Mansion – 4:15
10. Strange Waltz – 1:32
11. Incantation – 1:18
12. Sailing – 1:50
13. Liberation – 5:30
Line-up
Francois Pouvreau – All music & Production
Cover Picture
Rating
Music: 6
Sound: 5
Extras: -
Total: 5.5 / 10
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