Starling - July/August 1998
by Sarah Chauncey
Tribe:Ian LeFeuvre (lead vocals, guitar); Peter Von Althen (drums, backing vocals); Jon Reilly-Roe (bass, backing vocals)
Tunes:Seriously melodic and intelligent power pop
To Contact:Rod Marsden for Manage This!, 154 West 57th St., Suite 133, New York, NY 10019 (212) 246-1200.
The self-titled debut from Ottawa’s Starling is “home-grown and hands-on,” according to singer Ian LeFeuvre. “We did it all on our own.” The trio, who has been together just over two years, recorded the CD in LeFeuvre’s Slowpoke Studio, with each member engineering for the other two. Additionally, the band avoided the “fix it in the mix” mentality, committing all their effects to tape on the initial takes. “By the time you get around to mixing,” LeFeuvre theorizes, “You’re not going to be in the same spirit as you were performing it.” The result is a professional, but not overly polished, album.
The singer is eager to point out that Starling isn’t “Ian’s band.” Between them, the three members have vast experience in the music industry, and their collective seasoning is evident in 12 well-constructed, infectious tracks, from the swing-influenced “If I Could Do”, to the straight-ahead “Don’t Deflate”, to the Skydiggers-like “Burnout” (Von Althen is a former Skydigger).
Somewhat surprisingly, LeFeuvre admits to being a novice songwriter. “Hopefully, I don’t get worse,” he jokes. Not likely, given the literate craftsmanship he evidences. We think Starling’s going to be around for a while.