Thierry Haliniak’s My Raining Stars returned this summer with their latest album ‘Momentum’. It follows 2022’s fine ’89 Memories’, can it match up to its quality?
‘Momentum’ is available via their Bandcamp page.
’89 Memories’ was indebted to the lush melodies of the early 90s indie-pop and shoegaze scene in the UK. Whilst these hallmarks remain, there is a newfound directness to Haliniak’s songwriting, causing a stir here. Opener ‘For Good’ puts Johnny Marr’s hook-making skills through Andy Bell’s psychedelic prism to great effect. Whilst not full throttle in tempo, there is an urgency pouring out of ‘For Good’ that demands serious attention. ‘Lost in the Wild’ follows this more direct route with punchy, breathy vocals and defiant blasts on the guitar. Haliniak’s playing strays into the gothic overtures of The Cure, allowing a melancholic beauty to swell around the lysergic ‘Sonic Flower Groove’ artistry. ‘The Cost Within’ takes all that was good from ’89 Memories’ and is between the paisley singles era of Stone Roses and The La’s to conjure the jingle-jangle moment of the year.
All great shoegaze bands attempt to make coming-of-age records. It’s a default setting that all dreamers with pedals have. On ‘Special Place’ and ‘Stop the Time’, My Raining Stars enter said realm. The former opens with “There’s a place I know you’ve never seen”, from here on, Haliniak acts as the effortlessly cool friend who takes you to the best books, music and clothes. Sonically massive, spiritually pure, ‘Special Place’ hits hard with poignancy and, as the drums begin to close in on you like an anxiety dream, Haliniak’s solo heals with its divinity. ‘Stop the Time’ is steeped in rock ‘n’ roll desperation, of a longing to be heard. Haliniak’s ethereal vocals struggle to find space to breathe as the guitars come to the fore. It gives the song a cinematic quality, where the protagonists' arduous journey to triumph is against all odds.
‘Manhattan’ close the album out with the finest Brian Jonestown Massacre homage written in a decade. Mid-paced, psych-guitar-driven tracks, beset with great drama, close out this album in the heroic style it richly deserves.
What comes next for My Raining Stars must be word-of-mouth success. Accept the challenge and spread the love!