My Raining Stars – 89 memories

Former Nothing To Be Done member Thierry Haliniak is back with a new album under the guise of My Raining Stars. It follows the sublime ‘Obvious Reasons’ EP in 2020. Can the longer format meet the same standards?

89 memories is available to buy on Bandcamp.

My Raining Stars have made a name for themselves by reimagining Sarah Records, Creation Records, and the C86 scene for the modern day. On ‘If You’, ‘Too Soon’, and ‘Behind Her Lovely Smile’ they tread similar water. ‘If You’ plunges into the hazy beauty of Chapterhouse via New order’s ‘Ceremony’. ‘Too Soon’ combines the explorative drumming of ‘Vapour Trail’ with the eloquent beauty of the Cocteau Twins on this lo-fi gem. ‘Behind Her Lovely Smile’ however whilst drawing on Ride’s comeback album ‘Weather Diaries’ begins to transgress the past. The guitars are blessed with rock ‘n roll’s desperation to live; a moment Johnny Marr would be proud of! Haliniak’s ability to use his voice as the songs blissful release is utterly mesmerising.

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‘89 Memories’ ultimate strength is its positivity. In a world falling apart at the seams, the ecstasy of ‘The Way Things Turn’ and ‘Of ‘Time’ couldn’t be more vital. The former is a brooding lullaby sent from the angels. The beauty of The Orchids is met with brooding yet angelic Mark Gardener-esque vocal from Haliniak. It has great cinematic quality. The protagonist is thrust into the inciting moment and must seek out the light. Twisting and turning, desperate to fight their way to resolution, this track will not give up! Whereas, ‘Time’ taps into the jangle of The la’s and the power of The Real People to find new avenues of euphoria.

What keeps the album refreshing is Haliniak’s foray into more rock ‘n’ roll guitar playing. His sumptuous Ian Broudie-esque vocals on ‘From the Day She’s Gone’ is met with a direct and anguished urgency. The guitars brood in the verses before bursting into a display of melancholy reaching for escapism worthy of Johnny Marr. Whereas, ‘Sit and Stare’ takes Norman Blake’s melodic rumble to the edge of Weller and Craddock in the 90s.

These more instantaneous moments breathe vitality into Haliniak’s body of work that will surely win the hearts and minds of many new fans sooner rather than later.

DMA's - For Now

This album is new, apparently, and yet, its familiarity is immediate. At times, it’s effortless, catchy, and rhythmic, could it be an instant classic?

From note one of opener and album title ‘For Now’, it’s clear to see why Andy Bell professed “DMA’s are the future”. Guitars swirl like Bell’s Ride at their hazy best and crucially, there is broodiness lying within like early Verve.

Contrast that with 'Dawning', a pure trip down La's and Go-Betweens melody lane. Again, there is an essence of darkness, a snarl which loiters with the utmost righteousness. When spirit and belief merge like this, dreams of big unified crowds materialise.

The quest for purity of soul can occasionally be their downfall, however. A lack of shade dampens the beauty of those magic moments. ‘The End’ and ‘In The Air’ feel like they are reaching for something that isn’t there.

That said, when the C86 ‘Warsaw’ and ‘Lazy Love’ come to the fore, you could hardly blame them for striving for happiness every time. ‘Warsaw’ exuberantly blends Primal Scream’s debut album with the Paisley singles of early Stone Roses. ‘Lazy Love’, channels ‘Elephant Stone' via the indie-folk jangle of Belle & Sebastien’s classic ‘Boy With The Arab Strap’, you’ll wish it rambled on for hours.

An instant classic? It’s a way off. However, they are far more than Oasis revivalists. With Ride, Verve, The Cure, Primal Scream, Go-Betweens, Stone Roses all appearing as influences, a path is emerging for them to find their own voice.

Image Source: Alexander Gow - https://www.facebook.com/lnwyco/