Alone was a gem to stumble upon, a very pleasurable record. It’s very easy on the ear and I fell for it with ease and little effort. For the most of it the tracks are instrumentals that have a very melodic/new wave feeling about them.
Beautifully ghostly and just timeless
It’s almost a year since Star Madman (Amanda Jay) released this ten track album. I think it was back in March, during lockdown, when I first found it. I had been meaning to do a write up about it, but it’s been a funny old year and I’m hardly master of my time at the best of it.
Alone was a gem to stumble upon, a very pleasurable record. It’s very easy on the ear and I fell for it with ease and little effort. For the most of it the tracks are instrumentals that have a very melodic/new wave feeling about them. The light and playful track “H20” wouldn’t sound out of place on a modern day side scroller puzzle game. Whereas “Scream” marches along quite confidently for ninety percent of the track, working up to a finale. A saxophone solo tops off this envisioned neon future disco!
Then there’s the songs that feature her vocal talent, which really does merge perfectly with her production skills. The title track is a prime example—simple production methods and incredible layering of voice and synths. Like Blondie’s “Atomic”—from the paranoid atmosphere of the Cold War. This sound and subject matter once again suits a world on the brink. Song lyrics talk about a nuclear vision—God forbid nuclear conflict. But if it were to happen, I’d stick this one on. It’s beautifully ghostly and just timeless in how it sounds. “Vapor” is one of those that could just go on and on forever. A mood lifting and delightful dream base. That at times brings out those emotions that are joyful and yet painful.
On the basis of this album, I purchased her entire catalog on Bandcamp for about 16 quid. It’s a small price for something so marvellous. Fans of Ladytron or Goldfrapp would appreciate a listen. Generally speaking, fans of good quality electronic music would love Star Madman.
Alone is available on Bandcamp.
