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Rating: Starflower are Finnish and are the protagonists of a crystalline and simply crafted indiepop. They create direct melodies, a little bit like the Lucksmiths, a little bit like Acid House Kings (just to name two groups that come to mind). Bedroom pop so direct and shameless it's scary.
Used in such a way, guitar, bass, and drums might actually seem quite blunt weapons. But something in their songwriting prevents me from hitting the skip button while listening to these kids from Pori. The gentleness of the melodies and the strength of their crescendos. Listening to "You are not alone" you can imagine the indie kid drawing strength from the engaging refrain and finally getting out of bed to face the cruel world, leaving behind a pillow crumpled by their hands.
The initial jangle ride ("Star of my eye") is the track that most pays debt to the weighty (thank god!) Smiths. "Dance till the morning light" is the standout single with its affable danceability and the four-on-the-floor beat that never lets go of your hand. Even in "Smile upon my face", what strikes is the crescendos that the four from southwest Finland manage to craft, showing surprising compositional maturity. I find myself listening to "Leaving" thinking about how many bands may have inspired this track... and I almost answer myself The Cure (the more pop and sunny ones) thinking of the melodic attention of the four Finns and Antti's vocal melodies.
In the last tracks, the (jangle) guitar takes control, especially in the closing (and title track) "Moments in the sun", which seems to want to guide us to the inevitable conclusion of the album. It would be apt to say caring pop.
Perhaps they needed to take a risk in originality... but as a debut, it's extraordinary. Their label is the Swedish Music is my girlfriend, its name is another reason to listen.
And then this album puts you in a good mood, and that's enough for me.
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