Starfucker - 'Reptilians' Review

Starfucker's sophomore record Reptilians is my early frontrunner for best album of 2011. If you like electronics-based music at all (MGMT, LCD Soundsystem, Passion Pit, and latter-day of Montreal are some reference points for me), you must check this out.

Starfucker (or STRFKR, if you prefer, which I'm sure is how the band will present themselves in public domain where profanity is not allowed) hail from Portland, Oregon. The band's sound employs electronics (synth, video game bleeps, beats) and spoken word segments along with traditional instrumentation and two talented vocalists.

Despite the heavy use of electronics, the resulting sound is incredibly warm and rich.

01) Born
Acoustic guitar intro leads into strange feedback noises, then a beat is introduced.

"So many people feeling troubled", the angelic vocals proclaim. "So many people evil killing." There are lots of problems in the world. What are we gonna do? Not sure if that question is answered, but we get some comforting keyboard sounds.

02) Julius
First single and major album highlight "Julius" starts off with some old-school video game bleeps and a shimmering, sparkling sound. Then we get an incredibly catchy synth line. Vocals kick in, different from the first song - I gather we have two vocalists here. Some heavy bass provides a backbone to all the synth. All the sounds crash and cascade into each other, and it is beautiful.

03) Bury Us Alive
Another highlight of the record. You should just listen to this album start-to-finish, but if you must start off with a song sampler, go with this song. An icy smooth synth trickles down, and is joined by a solid beat keeping the pace. A trumpeting sound effect kicks in for the chorus, reminds me a bit of the sound effect The Dandy Warhols employed in "We Used to Be Friends". Kicks things into high gear, makes you wanna dance.

"I know nothing ever keeps you safe for sure".

The chorus is simply "Oh, bury us alive" sung over + over.

04) Mystery Cloud
Fast-paced drumbeat. More smooth synth. At the halfway point, there's a 'ding-ding-ding!' and an explosion of gorgeous sounds.

The song winds down and then we get this spoken word segment. There's humming electronics in the background while some dude tells you that one thing everyone should do in their life is consider death.

"To observe skulls and skeletons and to wonder what it will be like to go to sleep and never wake up...ever".

The dude likens this to manure, which is vile and disgusting, but necessary to make plants grow. Similarly, pondering death may be gloomy and unpleasant, but it has a positive effect on one's life. HOW the contemplation of death is supposed to have this effect is not exactly explained, but I can fill in the gaps - thinking about death and your life ending can make you realize that every moment in your life is precious, and all that jazz.

This leads us into the next song...

05) Death As A Fetish
Another catchy-as-hell synth.

"And I will never be good enough, quietly."

Then there's the phrase 'death as a fetish'. What exactly does this refer to? Goth culture, where death and skulls and darkness are definitely fetishized? Or is it more general?

06) Astoria
A bit of an antidote to all the synth we've been getting, perfectly timed, this song just starts off with a simple bass line.

"Simple life...I want a simple life".

Squiggly electronics do kick in after about a minute, but it is good to get that little break. The song as a whole is short and sweet.

07) Reptilians
The heart of this title track is a solid bass line accompanied by a beat. Other sounds creep in and out around it.

08) The White of Noon
This song is more atmospheric than tracks before it. Steps into the background a bit rather than slamming you with sounds. Droning vocals about dreaming and loving.

09) Hungry Ghost
Another spoken word segment starts this one off.

"If you are aware of a state which you call 'is', or reality, or life, this implies another started called 'isn't', or illusion, or unreality, or nothingness, or death."

Ah, philosophy. This seems related to the life/death balance touched upon earlier. Life only has any meaning because we die.

Then we get some cool fucking synth to munch on along with our philosophy lesson. And that's it, that's the song.

10) Mona Vegas
A latter half of the album highlight. The synths are more steady and stretched out rather than being fast-paced and frenetic. The vocals take center stage. This song builds and releases.

"We are the only ones...high as a desert night."

11) Millions
After "Mona Vegas" slowed things down and got a bit more emotional, "Millions" brings in some silly synths and just gets down, wants to have fun.

12) Quality Time
Another spoken word intro - spectrum of life, woven tapestry of many dimensions. Then, hells yes, a slammin' beat that reminds me a bit of LCD Soundsystem's "Tribulations". No vocals. It all sounds very triumphant, and fittingly closes the album.

There are two 'bonus tracks', but "Quality Time" ends the album proper.

This album is addictive and does a great job of cheering me up when I'm feeling down. The whole thing sounds absolutely gorgeous. You could easily score a dance party with this record, or you can just sit back, relax, and absorb it all. I can't recommend Reptilians enough.