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STAR OF HEART DATSON MUSIC & LYRICS © Geoffrey Datson 2000 PRODUCER Geoffrey Datson REVIEWS I have to say that I've enjoyed the Star Heart listening experience....particularly while watching George W Bush give his latest pep talk....or while putting on my tie in the mornings. It's an odd soundscape of course, which seems to somehow counterpoint the feeling of walking in mollasses , surrounded by so many Californians. Kurt Austin USA It's kind of like... soft punk. David Kirk, Painter STAR OF HEART is the first release of DATSON’S music on STICKYLABEL. He was, way back in the dim distant recent past of rock, a member of the Sydney cult punk/surf band Surfside Six, and wrote their hit single 'Cool in the Tube'. After that, he formed Samurai Trash, the first Australian band to sign with Virgin records. In Trash, DATSON explored looping with answering machine tapes, and was responsible for the ‘noises’ used in that band. He also made his own instruments and included folk instruments like the dulcima in his textural repertoire of sound. Samurai Trash unfortunately imploded soon after their first few singles, and following that disappointment, DATSON left for New York. As a result, he missed out on the flowering of Aus/rock during the 80s, so consequently, does not have the embarrassing skeleton in the closet of ever being photographed wearing a mullet. In New York DATSON worked with Dana Vlcek (Rebirth of Cool and now Abstract Truth) and spoken word siren Dana Bryant. Since then he has recorded hundreds of hours of music, and STAR OF HEART is the first selection to make its way out of the studio. For twenty-five years, DATSON has stuck to his guns and made his own music, when there was no market for individual song writing musicians making electronic music. He has been refining his material and now, the industry has caught up with his ear, and he is ready to put it out there. STAR OF HEART comprises a range of material, from the spoken word Ballad of Pinky and Pablo, to the high-energy Angel’s Commute. Filling the spectrum in between is a mix of funky pop (Velvet Scooter), love songs (Now and Forever) and beautiful evocative instrumentals (Mooring). LINER NOTES: The Best of all Times was a collection of letters written in1992 from a fictitious crusade fought in early 21c, The wheezing clicky sound is a Tempo Harmonium driven by a small hair drier type fan. Now and Forever was written as it ran. Mooring is an audio excursion to the magical foreshores I grew up on. The infinite depth of rock pools, there's a whole universe in there and sea anemonies are supa-novas. @ Joy was recorded with 2 keyboards Josh found in a garbage skip. The Ballad of Pinky and Pablo grew from the characters in a sand sculpture at Seal Rocks. Mick Wade provided the guitar line. Larry, who I believe, is one of those quantum cats, turned up on my birthday 2 years ago with DJ Bonnefoy. It's been a great pleasure and privilege to finish this first CD. We launched at the warehouse because this is where the music is made. It's been afternoons in the company and sound of angels. The room is suffused with a glorious glow and there have been moments in the presence of beautiful alchemy. So to the thank youse; 25 years of long suffering neighbours and flatmates, thank you; 25 years of difficult and unreliable genius band mates; from you I have learnt. All those people who've supported with work and advice over many, many years. Toby Creswell, David Messer & Cate, Helen Ryan, and Dave Bonnefoy for labouring through the tapes. Everybody who's hung around arguing till the small hours, because it's only through argument we reach agreement. (the jury is still out on the mixing black debate.) DJ FuckHeaD who'll be turning up at a party near you to tamper with your records. Arc=Atom and Emma for extended use of turntables & records, along with numerous turntablists who've played the most exquisite of musics in the small hours. You guys gave me a whole new set of ears. Darrenator for doing production on the launch. And the musicians who are not finalised (so as to speak) yet. And of course Annette who's believed in, inspired, sung on and ploughed thousands of hours into the CD and setting up the label. |