Stars: The Five Ghosts

Label: Vagrant

After 2004's magnificent Set Yourself on Fire, it seemed that Stars were ready for (no pun intended) stardom, but twas not in the cards. Now they rebound by reuniting with Set Yourself on Fire producer Tom McFall and thinking smaller. Though there are still string arrangements ornamenting a few tracks, this is a more intimate album, its stripped-down sound more revealing of the electronic rock foundation of the band's earlier work (even the strings get fuzzed-up electronically). The most important part of Stars' sound, the complementary male/female vocals of Torquil Campbell and Amy Millan, is immediately to the fore on the beautiful opener “Dead Hearts.” Postal Service comparisons have been immediate, but since when has that been a bad thing? When married to soaring melodies, as so often on The Five Ghosts, it's one of the most infectious sounds in recent indie rock. (Steve)