A glistening dreamy pop record the Portland,

Centuries Before Love And War

Release Date: 22nd January, 2007
Label / Distributor: Wind-Up Records
Performers: Jason Bell(Guitars & Vocals), Kevin Calaba (Vocals, Guitars& Keyboards), Daniel Orvik (Drums, Samples & Programming)
Production and Engineering:Tony Lash and Jeff Saltzman

Track Reviews

1. Centuries
Starts of really slow with slight keyboards and electronic drums. As singer Kevin Calaba asks you "Join the cause, or are you scared? "put your coat on and dont' ask why", A cold bleak beginning to this record but not for long as the song gives a glimpse of what is to come. Huge vocals, trippy electronics and intense, yet melodic guitars. 
Video: Stars of Track and Field - Centuries - Live at The Troubadour in West Hollywood CA

2.  Movies of Antarctica
Almost what U2 would sound like if they were a heavier indie band. A lush track with intense guitars and stadium size vocals, makes it a very radio friendly song.  The chorus with lines like " Novas thrashing in your eyes "  and "Faded prints and sample times", gives this song a very uplifting glamorous feel. Then he ends, "I’m colder now I’m standing still".
Video: Stars of Track and Field - Movies of Antartica

3.  With You
A  warm dreamy song with some of the best vocal work on the record. This song features some delicate keyboards, trippy electronic beats and an almost sampled guitar drenched in echo. With the electronic interludes  and beats giving the song a feel like it's trying to bridge the gap between rock and ambient electronica. The slow build to the huge layered melodic vocals at the end could make this a highlight track for many listeners. It  Singer Calaba admits that “Sonically and lyrically the song describes the emotional tug of war that occurs between sorrow and elation.”

4. Lullabye for a G.I./Don't Close Your Eyes 
Whispery vocals, electronic bits, slow electro beats gives this track an almost dreampop/slowcore feel like Arab Strap or The American Analog Set. It is haunting and therapeutic at the same time.

5. Real Time
The synths and electronics that start this sound gives it an almost 70s soul feel. Really it's far from that as the songs kicks in another gear when for the chorus, more rock than soul. With superb chiming melodic guitars and harmony vocals filling the song, another standout track.

6. Arithmatik
More electronic beats and twinkling guitars provide the backend layering to Arithmatik. A boombastic stadium alt-rock track as good as any you have heard.  The quite bits in between are essential and beautiful as Calaba almost weeps when he sings "Your favorite film was flicker, flickering" with a lot of reverb attached. His emotions are spilling out  and he almost pleads with you. The guitar solo has a very 80s feel and is disposable.
Video: Stars of Track and Field - Arithmatik

7. U.S. Miles
Delicate keyboards wash this slower song. It actually builds in an almost post-rock way to the huge jangly guitars and a guitar solo which could have easily been done by the Edge.

8. Say Hello
The floral picking style that layers almost all this track reminds us of Peter Buck's playing on Out of Time. Features some almost chanted more than sung voclas and the best guitar solo on the record. A lot of the songs on this feature the delicate verse breaks and heavier chorus or interludes. This one is no exception. The dramatic effect of this draws you in to listen further.

9. Exit The Recital
An gorgeous melodic emotionally charged song that only Calaba understands. Sad in it's depth, but lush in arrangements . Even the coarse jagged guitars in the middle. The bluesy opening guitars lead into the first verse which goes like this.
"Pieces of you in us all, I watch the candle dissovle  
Flashing red lights, you were all we had left to call home". Calaba crys out to you when he sings "all we had left to call home" with such ache, you can't help but be drawn in. The lyrics are a bit confusing but there is a story in there somewhere.

Video: Stars of Track and Field - Exit The Recital - Live at High Noon Saloon Madison WI

10. Fantastic

Almost Johnny Marr styled guitars glide all over the last track on Centuries. Sounds very much like it came from the Death Cab for Cutie/Postal Service school of indie. 

Why We Approve This?

Centuries Before Love and War sits warmly between digital and analog music styles. It's a blend that they have been able to formulate and still sound sincere. The band admits that they are finally able embrace all of their influences, from Aphex Twin to early Pink Floyd. This record proves they had a genuine go at it and pull it off brilliantly. From the subtle trip-hop electronics to the soaring vocals and guitars. It's a record with something for everyone and it is certainly not difficult listening as songs like, Movies of Antartica, With You and Arithmatik instantly grab your attention.

Listen

@ MySpace | @ Purevolume | @ Morning Becomes Eclectic

Videos

Stars of Track and Field - Centuries - Live at The Troubadour in West Hollywood CA 
Stars of Track and Field - Movies of Antartica
Stars of Track and Field - Arithmatik
Stars of Track and Field - Exit The Recital - Live at High Noon Saloon Madison WI


Buy Stars of Track and Field  - Centuries Before Love and War


Brief Artist Biography
Country: USA
City: Portland
Year Formed:1987

Stars of Track and Field  is an electro-tinged indie pop outfit out of Portland, Oregon. Their name was drawn from a Belle and Sebastien track.  The band moved from being a quartet to a trio after their bassist  left in 2004. They decided not to replace him, instead opting for digital bass. "Our initial motivation was two fold; a chance to stretch our boundaries and break from the conventional rock format, and avoid the frustration of rehearsing bass player after bass player,” says Jason Bell. 

Stars of Track and Field

Stars of Track and Field suddenly took on an entirely revamped musical outlook and feverishly began developing new songs for their debut EP. Five hour practice sessions consisted of two-and-a-half hours of silence and self-imposed isolation; rehearsals were largely spent with all members’ headphones on, experimenting with sounds and textures, only to later share their finds.  “We’re thinking in bleeps and blurps these days as much as we used to think in rhythms and melodies,” says Bell. The  EP, You Came Here for Sunset Last Year was the result of these sessions. It was recorded and produced by Tony Lash (Dandy Warhols, Elliott Smith) and Jeff Saltzman (Stephen Malkmus) for a mere $2,500  and released in June 2005. They got significant radio attention throughout the US, Pacific Northwest, which included some commercial airplay.  Orvik explains, "We never wrote songs with the thought, "Wouldn’t this sound great on radio?" The attention has been great, but it hasn’t changed our compositional outlook.  As long as this band exists, our intention is to simply make art.”

After a brief stint on the Southern California-based indie label Sidecho Records, Stars of Track and Field signed to Wind-up Records. “Around the time of SXSW 2006, several labels had their hands down the back of our swim trunks,” jokes Calaba, “and it always makes sense to take advantage of that kind of interest.  Wind-up is about developing careers, and that is the priority for this band.”

Returning to the studio with Lash and Saltzman, the team created Centuries Before Love and War, the band's first full length, which was released exclusively on iTunes on August 22nd. An ambitious debut, Centuries Before Love and War displays the band’s dichotomous formula, successfully mining elements from across rock's history while simultaneously embracing the digital technology of the future. "Tony really put his heart and soul into it,” says Bell. “He thinks it's the best thing he's ever worked on. That's saying quite a bit."

The band completed an US tours with Jeremy Enigk (Sunny Day Real Estate & The Fire Theft  and  another Tour with The Twilight Singers (Greg Dulli, ex-Afghan Whigs).  “For me, the live setting allows for us to present songs like ‘Movies of Antartica’ or ‘Say Hello’ in a much more raw fashion than the record,” adds Bell.  “Sounds like we’ll never be home again,” Orvik laughs.

For More Information.
Wikipedia
Official web site