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Starsailor's sophomore effort, Silence Is Easy, was hotly anticipated largely upon the announcement that the melodic and earnest quartet from Chorley, England, would be working with legendary producer Phil Spector. It also didn't hurt that Starsailor's debut release, Love Is Here, was generally received upon its release as one of the best British rock albums of 2002. Built around the songwriting and lead vocals of James Walsh, the band fit nicely alongside similarly minded mellow Brits Doves and Coldplay. Mixing alternative rock aesthetics with a melodic pop sensibility, Silence Is Easy finds the band in pretty much the same place as before with slightly better songwriting, a more mature vocal performance by Walsh, and tastefully grandiose production. It's also clear from the cover art alone -- a pristinely epic photo of the band by water that veritably screams Heaven Up Here -- that Echo & the Bunnymen is, along with Spector, a main influence here. It makes sense: the Bunnymen's use of strings, horns, and chugging beats always seemed like a direct outgrowth of Spector's Brill Building "Wall of Sound" aesthetic. The bookend-like influence on Starsailor feels serendipitous. Even Walsh's delivery, which bordered on the relentlessly nasal on Love Is Here, here reveals the flush of Ian McCulloch's bluesy baritone. The 11 tracks here, including the two Spector-produced numbers, are heartfelt, melodic rockers with some string backgrounds that fit well into the overall aesthetic of cinematic pop romanticism.
© Matt Collar /TiVo
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Barry Westhead, Composer, Producer, Piano, Synthesizer - James Stelfox, Composer, Producer, Bass Guitar - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Michael H Brauer, Mixer - Adam Noble, Assistant - Danton Supple, Producer, Engineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Producer, Drums - Starsailor, MainArtist - Nathaniel Chan, Assistant - James Walsh, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Vocals - Chris Bolster, Assistant - Yvonne Laing, Vocals
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Barry Westhead, Composer, Producer, Piano, Synthesizer - James Stelfox, Composer, Producer, Bass Guitar - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Michael H Brauer, Mixer - Adam Noble, Assistant - Danton Supple, Producer, Engineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Producer, Drums - Sarah Willson, Cello - Starsailor, MainArtist - Nathaniel Chan, Assistant - James Walsh, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Vocals - Chris Bolster, Assistant - Luis Jardin, Percussion
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Barry Westhead, Composer, Producer, Piano - James Stelfox, Composer, Producer, Bass Guitar - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Michael H Brauer, Mixer - Adam Noble, Assistant - Danton Supple, Producer, Engineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Producer, Drums - Starsailor, MainArtist - Nathaniel Chan, Assistant - James Walsh, Composer, Producer, Vocals - Chris Bolster, Assistant - John Dunne, Programmer - Luis Jardin, Percussion
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Barry Westhead, Composer, Piano, Synthesizer - James Stelfox, Composer, Bass Guitar - PHIL SPECTOR, Producer - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Rob Spriggs, Viola - Michael H Brauer, Mixer - Danton Supple, Engineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Drums, Percussion - Sarah Willson, Cello - Ruth Gottlieb, Violin - Gillon Cameron, Violin - Starsailor, MainArtist - Nathaniel Chan, Assistant - James Walsh, Composer, Guitar, Vocals
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Barry Westhead, Composer, Producer, Piano, Synthesizer - James Stelfox, Composer, Producer, Bass Guitar - Howard Gott, Violin - Brian Wright, Violin - Ian Burdge, Cello - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Anna Morris, Violin - Gini Ball, Violin - Sally Herbert, Violin - Paul Hicks, Engineer - Arnulf Lindner, Double Bass - Calina de la Mare, Violin - Rob Spriggs, Viola - Michael H Brauer, Mixer - Adam Noble, Assistant - Danton Supple, Producer, Engineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Producer, Drums - Starsailor, MainArtist - Nathaniel Chan, Assistant - James Walsh, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Vocals - Leo Abrahams, Conductor, Director - Vince Greene, Viola - Chris Bolster, Assistant - Sophie Sirota, Viola - John Dunne, Programmer - Catherine Browning, Violin - Louise Peacock, Violin - Anna Giddey, Violin - Tim Myall, Violin - Wendy De St Paer, Violin - Alison Blunt, Violin - Claire Raybould, Violin - Katherine Watmough, Violin - Luis Jardin, Percussion - Fiona Griffiths, Viola - Lucy Theo, Viola - Helen Thomas, Cello - Andy Nice, Cello - Emily Isaac, Cello
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Chris Brown, Engineer - Barry Westhead, Composer, Piano, Synthesizer - James Stelfox, Composer, Bass Guitar - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - JOHN LECKIE, Producer, Engineer - Michael H Brauer, Mixer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Drums, Percussion - Starsailor, MainArtist - Nathaniel Chan, Assistant - James Walsh, Composer, Guitar, Vocals
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Barry Westhead, Composer, Producer, Piano, Synthesizer - James Stelfox, Composer, Producer, Bass Guitar - Howard Gott, Violin - Brian Wright, Violin - Ian Burdge, Cello - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Anna Morris, Violin - Gini Ball, Violin - Sally Herbert, Violin - Paul Hicks, Engineer - Arnulf Lindner, Double Bass - Calina de la Mare, Violin - Rob Spriggs, Viola - Michael H Brauer, Mixer - Adam Noble, Assistant - Danton Supple, Producer, Engineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Producer, Drums - Starsailor, MainArtist - Nathaniel Chan, Assistant - James Walsh, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Vocals - Leo Abrahams, Conductor, Director - Vince Greene, Viola - Chris Bolster, Assistant - Sophie Sirota, Viola - Catherine Browning, Violin - Louise Peacock, Violin - Anna Giddey, Violin - Tim Myall, Violin - Wendy De St Paer, Violin - Alison Blunt, Violin - Claire Raybould, Violin - Katherine Watmough, Violin - Fiona Griffiths, Viola - Lucy Theo, Viola - Helen Thomas, Cello - Andy Nice, Cello - Emily Isaac, Cello
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Barry Westhead, Composer, Piano, Synthesizer - James Stelfox, Composer, Bass Guitar - PHIL SPECTOR, Producer - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Rob Spriggs, Viola - Michael H Brauer, Mixer - Danton Supple, Engineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Drums, Percussion - Sarah Willson, Cello - Ruth Gottlieb, Violin - Gillon Cameron, Violin - Starsailor, MainArtist - Nathaniel Chan, Assistant - James Walsh, Composer, Guitar, Vocals
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Barry Westhead, Composer, Producer, Piano, Synthesizer - James Stelfox, Composer, Producer, Bass Guitar, Bass - Howard Gott, Violin - Brian Wright, Violin - Ian Burdge, Cello - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Anna Morris, Violin - Gini Ball, Violin - Sally Herbert, Violin - Paul Hicks, Engineer - Arnulf Lindner, Double Bass - Calina de la Mare, Violin - Michael H Brauer, Mixer - Adam Noble, Assistant - Danton Supple, Producer, Engineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Producer, Drums - Starsailor, MainArtist - Nathaniel Chan, Assistant - James Walsh, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Vocals - Leo Abrahams, Conductor, Director - Vince Greene, Viola - Chris Bolster, Assistant - Sophie Sirota, Viola - Yvonne Laing, Vocals - Catherine Browning, Violin - Louise Peacock, Violin - Anna Giddey, Violin - Tim Myall, Violin - Wendy De St Paer, Violin - Alison Blunt, Violin - Claire Raybould, Violin - Katherine Watmough, Violin - Luis Jardin, Percussion - Fiona Griffiths, Viola - Lucy Theo, Viola - Emily Frith, Viola - Helen Thomas, Cello - Andy Nice, Cello - Emily Isaac, Cello
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Barry Westhead, Composer, Producer, Piano - James Stelfox, Composer, Producer, Bass Guitar - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Britt Myers, Engineer - Michael H Brauer, Mixer - Adam Noble, Assistant - Danton Supple, Producer, Engineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Producer, Drums - Sarah Willson, Cello - Starsailor, MainArtist - Nathaniel Chan, Assistant - James Walsh, Composer, Producer, Vocals - Chris Bolster, Assistant
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Barry Westhead, Composer, Producer, Organ - James Stelfox, Composer, Producer, Bass Guitar - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Michael H Brauer, Mixer - Adam Noble, Assistant - Danton Supple, Producer, Engineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Producer, Drums - Sarah Willson, Cello - Starsailor, MainArtist - Nathaniel Chan, Assistant - James Walsh, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Piano, Vocals - Chris Bolster, Assistant
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
DISC 2
Barry Westhead, Composer, Producer - James Stelfox, Composer, Producer - Miles Showell, MasteringEngineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Producer - Starsailor, MainArtist - James Walsh, Composer, Producer, Vocals - Mark Aubrey, Producer
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Barry Westhead, Composer, Producer, Piano, Synthesizer - James Stelfox, Composer, Producer, Bass Guitar, Bass - Miles Showell, MasteringEngineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Producer, Drums, Percussion - Starsailor, MainArtist - James Walsh, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Vocals - Mark Aubrey, Producer - Soulsavers, Mixer
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Barry Westhead, Composer, Producer, Piano, Synthesizer - James Stelfox, Composer, Producer, Bass Guitar - Miles Showell, MasteringEngineer - Danton Supple, Producer, Mixer, Engineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Producer, Drums, Percussion - Starsailor, MainArtist - James Walsh, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Vocals - Yvonne Laing, Vocals - Luis Jardin, Percussion
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Barry Westhead, Composer, Producer, Piano, Synthesizer - James Stelfox, Composer, Producer, Bass Guitar, Bass - Ben Byrne, Composer, Producer, Drums, Rubboard - Starsailor, MainArtist - James Walsh, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Vocals - Mark Aubrey, Producer, Engineer
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Barry Westhead, Composer - James Stelfox, Composer - Ben Byrne, Composer - Starsailor, MainArtist - James Walsh, Composer, Lead Vocals
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Barry Westhead, Composer, Producer, Piano, Synthesizer - James Stelfox, Composer, Producer, Bass Guitar - Howard Gott, Violin - Brian Wright, Violin - Ian Burdge, Cello - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Anna Morris, Violin - Gini Ball, Violin - Sally Herbert, Violin - Paul Hicks, Engineer - Arnulf Lindner, Double Bass - Calina de la Mare, Violin - Michael H Brauer, Mixer - Adam Noble, Assistant - Danton Supple, Producer, Engineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Producer, Drums - Starsailor, MainArtist - Nathaniel Chan, Assistant - James Walsh, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Vocals - Leo Abrahams, Conductor, Musical Director - Vince Greene, Viola - Chris Bolster, Assistant - Sophie Sirota, Viola - Yvonne Laing, Vocals - Catherine Browning, Violin - Louise Peacock, Violin - Anna Giddey, Violin - Tim Myall, Violin - Wendy De St Paer, Violin - Alison Blunt, Violin - Claire Raybould, Violin - Katherine Watmough, Violin - Luis Jardin, Percussion - Fiona Griffiths, Viola - Lucy Theo, Viola - Emily Frith, Viola - Helen Thomas, Cello - Andy Nice, Cello - Emily Isaac, Cello
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2004 Parlophone Records Ltd, a Warner Music Group Company
Barry Westhead, Composer, Producer, Piano, Synthesizer - James Stelfox, Composer, Producer, Bass - Howard Gott, Violin - Brian Wright, Violin - Ian Burdge, Cello - Greg Calbi, Masterer - Anna Morris, Violin - Gini Ball, Violin - Sally Herbert, Violin - Paul Hicks, Engineer - Arnulf Lindner, Double Bass - Calina de la Mare, Violin - Michael H Brauer, Mixer - Adam Noble, Personal Assistant - Danton Supple, Producer, Engineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Producer, Drums - Starsailor, MainArtist - Nathaniel Chan, Personal Assistant - James Walsh, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Vocals - Leo Abrahams, Conductor - Vince Greene, Viola - Chris Bolster, Personal Assistant - Sophie Sirota, Viola - Yvonne Laing, Vocals - Catherine Browning, Violin - Louise Peacock, Violin - Anna Giddey, Violin - Tim Myall, Violin - Wendy De St Paer, Violin - Alison Blunt, Violin - Claire Raybould, Violin - Katherine Watmough, Violin - Luis Jardin, Percussion - Fiona Griffiths, Viola - Lucy Theo, Viola - Emily Frith, Viola - Helen Thomas, Cello - Andy Nice, Cello - Emily Isaac, Cello
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Limited
Barry Westhead, Composer, Producer, Piano, Synthesizer - James Stelfox, Composer, Producer, Bass Guitar - Howard Gott, Violin - Brian Wright, Violin - Ian Burdge, Cello - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Anna Morris, Violin - Gini Ball, Violin - Sally Herbert, Violin - Paul Hicks, Engineer - Arnulf Lindner, Double Bass - Calina de la Mare, Violin - Michael H Brauer, Mixer - Adam Noble, Assistant - Danton Supple, Producer, Engineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Producer, Drums - Starsailor, MainArtist - Nathaniel Chan, Assistant - James Walsh, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Vocals - Leo Abrahams, Conductor, Musical Director - Vince Greene, Viola - Chris Bolster, Assistant - Sophie Sirota, Viola - Yvonne Laing, Vocals - Catherine Browning, Violin - Louise Peacock, Violin - Anna Giddey, Violin - Tim Myall, Violin - Wendy De St Paer, Violin - Alison Blunt, Violin - Claire Raybould, Violin - Katherine Watmough, Violin - Luis Jardin, Percussion - Fiona Griffiths, Viola - Lucy Theo, Viola - Emily Frith, Viola - Helen Thomas, Cello - Andy Nice, Cello - Emily Isaac, Cello
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2005 Parlophone Records Limited
Barry Westhead, Composer, Piano, Synthesizer - James Stelfox, Composer, Bass Guitar - PHIL SPECTOR, Producer - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Rob Spriggs, Viola - Michael H Brauer, Mixer - Danton Supple, Engineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Drums, Percussion - Sarah Willson, Cello - Ruth Gottlieb, Violin - Gillon Cameron, Violin - Starsailor, MainArtist - Nathaniel Chan, Assistant - James Walsh, Composer, Guitar, Vocals
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2005 Parlophone Records Limited
Barry Westhead, Composer, Piano, Synthesizer - James Stelfox, Composer, Bass Guitar - PHIL SPECTOR, Producer - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Rob Spriggs, Viola - Michael H Brauer, Mixer - Danton Supple, Engineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Drums, Percussion - Sarah Willson, Cello - Ruth Gottlieb, Violin - Gillon Cameron, Violin - Starsailor, MainArtist - Nathaniel Chan, Assistant - James Walsh, Composer, Guitar, Vocals
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2004 Parlophone Records Limited
Barry Westhead, Composer, Producer, Piano - James Stelfox, Composer, Producer, Bass Guitar, Bass - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Britt Myers, Engineer - Michael H Brauer, Mixer - Adam Noble, Assistant - Danton Supple, Producer, Engineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Producer, Drums - Sarah Willson, Cello - Starsailor, MainArtist - Nathaniel Chan, Assistant - James Walsh, Composer, Producer, Vocals - Chris Bolster, Assistant
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Limited
Barry Westhead, Composer, Producer, Piano, Synthesizer - James Stelfox, Composer, Producer, Bass Guitar - Greg Calbi, MasteringEngineer - Michael H Brauer, Mixer - Adam Noble, Assistant - Danton Supple, Producer, Engineer - Ben Byrne, Composer, Producer, Drums - Sarah Willson, Cello - Starsailor, MainArtist - Nathaniel Chan, Assistant - James Walsh, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Vocals - Chris Bolster, Assistant - Luis Jardin, Percussion
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited ℗ 2003 Parlophone Records Limited
Album review
Starsailor's sophomore effort, Silence Is Easy, was hotly anticipated largely upon the announcement that the melodic and earnest quartet from Chorley, England, would be working with legendary producer Phil Spector. It also didn't hurt that Starsailor's debut release, Love Is Here, was generally received upon its release as one of the best British rock albums of 2002. Built around the songwriting and lead vocals of James Walsh, the band fit nicely alongside similarly minded mellow Brits Doves and Coldplay. Mixing alternative rock aesthetics with a melodic pop sensibility, Silence Is Easy finds the band in pretty much the same place as before with slightly better songwriting, a more mature vocal performance by Walsh, and tastefully grandiose production. It's also clear from the cover art alone -- a pristinely epic photo of the band by water that veritably screams Heaven Up Here -- that Echo & the Bunnymen is, along with Spector, a main influence here. It makes sense: the Bunnymen's use of strings, horns, and chugging beats always seemed like a direct outgrowth of Spector's Brill Building "Wall of Sound" aesthetic. The bookend-like influence on Starsailor feels serendipitous. Even Walsh's delivery, which bordered on the relentlessly nasal on Love Is Here, here reveals the flush of Ian McCulloch's bluesy baritone. The 11 tracks here, including the two Spector-produced numbers, are heartfelt, melodic rockers with some string backgrounds that fit well into the overall aesthetic of cinematic pop romanticism.
© Matt Collar /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 23 track(s)
- Total length: 01:37:21
- Main artists: Starsailor
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Rhino
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
A Warner Music Group Company, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Music Group Company, ℗ 2023 Parlophone Records Limited
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