Music
Press
When indie-rockers attempt to nurture their inner hip-hop, the results are frequently atrocious. Factor in the very sorry history of Irish rap music and any right thinking punter could be forgiven for approaching Dublin's Star Belgrade with caution.
Certainly the outfit would seem to be flirting with disaster, with a sound that tries to marry the white-guy funk of Beck with the glum histronics of Radiohead.
Clearly, in the wrong hands, this could be a formula for pretentious guitar dreck with a skinny bloke from the suburbs rapping badly on top. As it turns out, Star Belgrade have the chops to carry the conceit off; their songbook is stuffed with thrilling rockers and credible forays into alt. rap. Expect to hear a great deal more from them in 2007.
Eamon Miller, METRO, Jan 2007. - Eamon Miller, METRO
"It just goes to show you that you don't necessarily have to go into a big, expensive 24 track studio to make something that will grab people's attention... that track is a real grower."
- Steve Lamacq, BBC Radio 1 - BBC Radio 1
"Brilliant! That's from Star Belgrade ... a very promising upcoming Irish band... I really, really like them."
ALISON CURTIS, Today FM, Sept 2006 - Alison Curtis
"'Disconnection' is a fine example of the distinctive sound Star Belgrade are now carving out for themselves. It uses some rather unusual percussion as its backbone; a sparse loop which sounds quite mechanical, yet with a funky off-center beat. After a few listens it's started to become quite infectious. The soft vocals as ever are of the highest order, but it is not until the guitar noise finally weighs in bursts, that the song can be fully appreciated for the counter-balances within it."
FREQUENCY IRELAND, Demo Review, August 2006. - Frequency Ireland, on-line music magazine
"Star Belgrade are relative new comers to the music scene not that you would guess! Before releasing anything, their demo 'Red Arc' that they recorded at home caught the attention of BBC DJ Steve Lamacq and that was it, no going back. Their fused rock and electronica sound quickly became a regular on the radio. This exposure along with unprecedented download success catapulted Star Belgrade to the fore of the Irish Music scene in less than a year."
From 02, Making Waves website - 02, Making Waves
Freelance journalist Paul Galbally had this to say about their live set:
"Star Belgrade have purpose, that's apparent from the minute they take the stage. Their sound is wide and large, with a technological feel , that isn't clinical. The singer's stage presence is big, and they have a brooding and expectant air that makes listening to them an exciting and visceral experience. The material is excellent, and they give each number plenty of time to develop and allow the soundscapes to grow in unison as a musical unit. Their playing is technically excellent and inventive . This is all but their 3rd gig. Now that's impressive."
- Saturday Sessions Website, Carlow Local Newspaper
Star Belgrade arrive on the stage amidst a flurry of guitars and keyboards that seem to have sprung from nowhere. The look on their faces tells you they mean business. In terms of style think Bono crossed with Massive Attack with a lot of fuzz, a lot of noise, and melodious vocals poured over the top. The noise is huge, and consistent, a lot of work went into building the sound of this band, and it's apparent when they play. They all seem to have complete control of their instruments and rarely looked flustered on the stage....
Star Belgrade, well, they may just end up as the new Coldplay.
By Liam Tyrrell
25/07/2006
- Liam Tyrell
Discography
"Red Arc", June 2006
"Disconnect", Feb 2007
Both tracks are available as free downloads from the bands website and have been broadcast on over 50 radio stations worldwide including BBC1, Today FM, Aligre FM (Paris) & college radio stations across the U.S.A. and Canada.
Photos
Bio
Formed in February 2006, Star Belgrade have had a fantastic opening to their career. Before even releasing a record, the group acquired a cheerleader in the form of BBC DJ, Steve Lamacq who playlisted a home recorded demo tape of their song "Red Arc"
"It just goes to show you that you don't necessarily have to go into a big, expensive 24 track studio to make something that will grab people's attention... that track is a real grower."
- Steve Lamacq, BBC Radio 1
Subsequently, they recorded "Disconnection" at a session for the influential French station, Aligre FM which enjoyed heavy rotation alongside A-listers such as David Bowie & Interpol. Their demos continue to be broadcast on radio stations & podcasts throughout Europe, the UK & the USA.
Downloaders have proved no less eager to embrace Star Belgrade's music. Since their debut on the Irish music website, CPU.ie, their songs have charted them as the site's most downloaded unsigned Irish band of all time.
In recent months Star Belgrade have been selected for major national showcase gigs including 2006 Hard Working Class Heroes Festival, Murphy's Live 2007 and more recently the 2007 IMRO Showcase Tour.
The band are currently playing gigs across Europe and working on the post production of their debut EP with legendary engineer, Paul Thomas (U2/Phil Lynott) and producer, Gizzy D of Analogue Mindfield - it's due to be released later this summer.
"One of the bands set to hit the paydirt in 2007"
HOT PRESS, Nov 2006.
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