FabricationsHQ - Putting the Words to the Music
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    • Robert Jon & The Wreck - Red Moon Rising
    • Elles Bailey - Beneath the Neon Glow
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    • Dan Patlansky - Movin' On
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  • 2023 Reviews
  • 2023 Featured Album Reviews >
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    • Trevor Rabin - Rio
    • Vega - Battlelines
    • Downes Braide Association - Celestial Songs
    • High Pulp - Days In The Desert
    • Starlite & Campbell - STARLITE.ONE
    • Matteo Mancuso - The Journey
    • Oli Brown & The Dead Collective - Prelude & Prologue EPs
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    • Hayley Griffiths - Far From Here Hayley Griffiths Band - MELANIE
  • 2022 Reviews
  • 2022 Featured Album Reviews >
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    • SiX BY SiX - SiX BY SiX
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    • Erja Lyytinen - Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow
    • Troy Redfern - Backstage, Kinross
  • Selected 2024 Gig Reviews>
    • Silveroller - Backstage, Kinross
    • Dave Arcari - Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
    • Jack J Hutchinson - Bannermans, Edinburgh
    • Gypsy Pistoleros - Bannermans, Edinburgh
    • Kira Mac - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Sari Schorr; Matt Pearce & The Mutiny - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Dan Patlansky - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • The Davey Pattison Band - Backstage, Kinross
    • Verity/Bromham Band - Backstage, Kinross
    • Moving Pictures - Venue 38, Ayr
    • The Countess Of Fife - Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
    • Connor Selby - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Rebecca Downes - Backstage, Kinross
  • Selected 2023 Gig Reviews >
    • Ben Poole - The Ferry, Glasgow
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    • Amigo The Devil - The Classic Grand, Glasgow
    • Davey Pattison Blues Band - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • Joe Satriani - O2 Academy, Glasgow
    • Walter Trout - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Dan Patlansky - Stereo, Glasgow
    • Sari Schorr - The Classic Grand, Glasgow
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    • Elles Bailey - The Caves, Edinburgh
    • The Blackheart Orchestra - Hotel Utopia UK tour
    • The Wilson Brothers - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
  • Selected 2022 Gig Reviews >
    • WinterStorm Rock Weekender - Troon
    • Jack J Hutchinson - Bannermans, Edinburgh
    • Paul McCartney - Pyramid Stage, Glastonbury 2022
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    • Dan Patlansky - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Eric Gales - Oran Mor, Glasgow
  • Muirsical Conversations 2025>
    • Sandi Thom (February 2025)
  • Muirsical Conversations 2024>
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    • Albert Bouchard (August 2024)
    • Robert Berry - August 2024
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    • Dan Patlansky (March 2024)
    • Connor Selby (February 2024)
  • Muirsical Conversations 2023>
    • Del Bromham (November 2023)
    • Sari Schorr (October 2023)
    • Suzy Starlite & Simon Campbell (September 2023)
    • Ali Ferguson (August 2023)
    • Leoni Jane Kennedy (August 2023)
    • Joy Dunlop (May 2023)
    • Dan Patlansky - April 2023
    • Hayley Griffiths (February 2023)
    • Steve Hill (January 2023)
  • Muirsical Conversations 2022>
    • Rebecca Downes (December 2022)
    • Chris Antonik (November 2022)
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    • JW-Jones (August 2022)
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  • Selected Muirsical Conversations From The Archive>
    • Bernie Marsden (December 2021)
    • Robin George (November 2021)
    • Dennis DeYoung (June 2021)
    • Robert Berry (March 2021)
    • Dan Reed (February 2021)
    • Steve Hackett (January 2021)
    • John Verity (September 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (July 2020)
    • Gary Moat (March 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (October 2019)
    • Rebecca Downes (May 2019)
    • Ben Poole & Wayne Proctor (January 2019)
    • Dan Reed (November 2018)
    • Del Bromham (October 2018)
    • Brian Downey (September 2018)
    • Raintown - Paul Bain & Claire McArthur Bain (May 2018)
    • Hamilton Loomis (December 2017)
    • Alan Nimmo (October 2017)
    • Erja Lyytinen (September 2017)
    • Suzi Quatro (September 2017)
    • Biff Byford (August 2017)
    • Dan Patlansky (June 2017)
    • Graham Bonnet (May 2017)
    • Simon Thacker (April 2017)
    • Sari Schorr (March 2017)
    • Stevie Nimmo (February 2017)
    • Dan Reed (February 2017)
    • Adam Norsworthy (January 2017)
    • Colin James (December 2016)
    • John Lees (October 2016)
    • Sari Schorr (August 2016)
    • Mike Vernon (August 2016)
    • Wayne Proctor (July 2016)
    • Laurence Jones (April 2016)
    • Chantel McGregor (March 2016)
    • John Young (January 2016)
    • Michael Schenker (November 2015)
    • Martin Barre (October 2015)
    • Chris Norman (September 2015)
    • Joanne Shaw Taylor (August 2015)
    • Fee Waybill (July 2015)
    • Ian Anderson (June 2015)
    • John Lodge (June 2015)
    • John Lawton (May 2015)
    • Steve Hackett (May 2015)
    • Manny Charlton (April 2015)
    • Ben Poole (April 2015)
    • Alan Nimmo (February 2015)
    • Popa Chubby (December 2014)
    • Paul Young (July 2014)
    • Bernie Shaw (June 2014)
    • Lee Kerslake (December 2013)
    • Pat Travers (September 2013)
    • Steve Hunter (August 2013)
    • Joy Dunlop (March 2013)
    • Gwyn Ashton (Dec. 2012)
    • Greg Lake (October 2012)
    • Ned Evett (August 2012)
    • Steven Lindsay (July 2012)
    • Dave Cureton (June 2012)
    • Jon Anderson (May 2012)
    • Jeremey Frederick Hunsicker (March 2012)
    • Amy Schugar (Feb. 2012)
    • Robert Fleischman (November 2011)
    • Ivan Drever (Sep. 2011)
    • Michael Sadler (June 2011)
    • James Evans (April 2011)
    • Alyn Cosker (Nov. 2010)
    • Scott Higham (Nov. 2010)
    • Kevin Chalfant (Oct. 2010)
    • Francis Dunnery (Sep. 2010)
    • Duncan Chisholm (Aug 2010)
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    • Journey - That Time Forgot
    • Laser Love - Blue Oyster Cult Glasgow Apollo 29-04-78
    • Phil Lynott - Remembering Pt. 3
    • Freddie Mercury - The Days of His Life
    • Gary Moore - Last Exit
    • Mott - Without any of the Hoople-la
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    • Cliff Richard - The Rock and Roll Juvenile
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    • Talon - On Eagles Wings
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  • A Personal Journey: Definitive Edition (eBook)
  • Steve Perry (vocalist): One in a Million (eBook)
  • A Writer's Muirsings >
    • Superbowl XLVII MVP: Beyoncé (February 2013)
    • Michael Jackson: The Alternative Verdict (Nov 2011)
    • True Colours (November 2010)
    • It's a New Language, Old Bean (October 2010)
    • Finger Pointing (July 2010)
    • Suffer the Little Children (April 2010)
    • Hey 'Banker', can you spare a dime? (February 2010)
  • Author Bio & Site Info
  • Contact FabricationsHQ
Starlite & Campbell – STARLITE.ONE
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As the title of Starlite & Campbell’s third album suggests, STARLITE.ONE is a space-age musical adventure of high concept (the world we live in, living every day to the utmost, shared humanity & shared experiences are all keystones).

Blues may have been the original foundation of the Portugese based British duo (heard to fine effect on award nominated debut Blueberry Pie), but it certainly isn’t the bulwark (rock, pop, folk and new wave all pepper the Starlite & Campbell experience); no one-dimensionality for lowest common denominator appeal for this ever-creative husband and wife team, where sound and instrumentation is as important as the songs.

Underlining the latter point are the recording processes that launched STARLITE.ONE out of the Supertone Studio in Samora Correia, Portugal – the album’s full-bodied and warm sound comes courtesy of a 48-channel CADAC analogue mixing console, along with a host of vintage outboard equipment and instrumentation.
(Nor can you fault the limited compression mastering from Jon Astley of Close to the Edge Mastering).
 
The results are a new wave meets art rock album where Simon Campbell has eschewed his six-string arsenal (although still present in cleverly treated forms, including a rare E1-M guitar) for a host of analogue synths and various other instrumentation.
Similarly Suzy Starlite, who has added a plethora of instrumentation to her considered bass lines.
(The pair are joined on the album by noted top-notch drummer, Hugo Danin; everything else is played by Starlite and Campbell).

Opening number and lead-off single 'Saving Me' is an ear-catching new wave number with a funky vibe and a nod to an 'Atomic' Blondie; additionally, holding Simon Campbell’s "Saving you! Saving me! Saving everyone!" tag line until the end is an impacting masterstroke on a song that lyrically condemns the darker underbelly of organised religion.

The dreamy and rhythmic synth-pop of 'The Voting Machine' (the title telling you the controversial story) features a clever and inspired blending of drum machine, Hugo Danin's groove and analogue synths, all of which provide the backdrop for Suzy Starlite's softer, yet lyrically forceful, lead vocal.

Dropping the tempo is 'Blow Them All To Pieces,' an analogue synth backed, acoustic ballad.
There’s something quite vulnerable about Simon Campbell’s softly-sung vocal, probably because the questioning lyricism, influenced by the invasion of Ukraine ("blow each other to pieces, is that what they’ll do?") plays counter-point to the charm of the music, acoustic chords sitting atop a blanket of synth textures before a lone fife flute flies in the face of crackling danger (in this highly creative case, a Xenon discharge tube).

'This Time (is Gonna Be the Last Time)' nods to new wave synth-pop of the late70s and early 80s, but with a contemporary twist (particularly in the short instrumental break and what is Simon Campbell’s only guitar solo on the album).
Campbell’s darker and deeper vocals also help to accentuate the song’s theme and title.

Hymnal love song 'Everything' (the first of two vignette pieces), features Suzy Starlite backed by what could be described as a church synth (in actuality a Sequential Prophet-5 keyboard); it also acts as a mid-album interlude between 'Programme A' and 'Programme B' of Starlite.One.

While not directly related, the lapping waves and darker synth textures of following number 'Shine the Light On Me' make for a perfect follow-on before developing into a dreamy, atmospheric number featuring Suzy Starlite and Simon Campbell in dual harmony.
The twist of such harmonising is revealed later in the track when it becomes clear the song is about a love affair between a man and machine, with Starlite playing the part of the AI on a captivating, if slightly disturbing, middle 8 ("I am your everything, don't you know that? 'Cause I am you, and you are me").

Suzy Starlite's vocal on the highly personalised 'The Coat,' along with the delicate Prophet-5 chords and projected atmospheres, make you immediately think of (for the most poignant and saddest of reasons) the late, troubled but brilliant Sinead O’Connor.
Suzy Starlite’s beautifully phrased delivery on a lyric about the horrible and torturous disease that is Dementia (Starlite’s mother suffered from Alzheimer’s disease) only increases the poignancy of what is unquestionably her best and most heartfelt vocal performance to date.

The synth-vocal vignette 'Mother' then leads to closing number 'A Part of Me is Broken (Part 2).'
A near six-and-a-half minute cry for humanity, the song echoes some of the bluesier soundscapes of Starlite & Campbell’s previous work but goes much further in musical and lyrical exploration (Moody Blues meets stoner space-rock? Why not).
Flitting from dreamier passages to rock soundscapes (baritone guitar played through a valve Leslie 145, Prophet-5 chords and a pulsating drone bass all play significant roles), the song’s focal point becomes the concluding monologue from Suzy Starlite, which is philosophical, reflective and future-questioning.
 
A highly creative art rock album with deeper themes and concepts?
Yes please.
What a clever little pair Suzy Starlite and Simon Campbell are.
Pity there aren’t more like ‘em.
 
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ

 
STARLITE.ONE will be released on Supertone Records on 1st September.
It will be available on 180g milky clear vinyl, CD, and high definition digital version (the latter exclusively on the band's Bandcamp page). Vinyl and CD available to preorder at: 
https://shop.supertonerecords.com/
Note: the album will NOT be available on audio-only streaming platforms.
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