This album will appeal to the creative and imaginative who can listen with their eyes closed and ears open, to those seeking a tender storyline running through the whole record rather than a single hit-song lost amongst cringe-tracks, and to those looking for something better than "everyday" commercial musical experiences.
The music on this album makes one feel as if one is stepping out from their cinema seat and stepping right on into a movie. It would be difficult to remain a passive listener with the rush of imagery pulling your emotions in to experience this album as it progresses. The instrumental tracks leave you stranded, having to explore alone, awaiting the return of Brandon's voice - our companion on this album-journey. "Kiss The Stars" is definitely more of an auditory experience than simple "vocals + tune" material.
It is like reading a book with your ears.
Exit
The book is opened.
A beat begins to rise from amidst wispy tinklings and a watery feeling.
Voyaging Nowhere
The story begins.
An electronic beat accompanied by crisp and floating vocals with a squelchy effect leading into a drifting tune.
Into Mirrors
You know by now you want to read the entire book.
A bouncy electro-beat meets a tuneful vocal topping to provide a 70's taste combined with an 80's beat. Keeps your body swaying and your ears tied to the lyrics.
Steel Toed
By now you are engrossed within the tale that has swallowed you whole.
A string-zing intro opens into a soundscape of electro-farts, robotic beeps, whooshy breezes and mechanical burps. A complete transformation of atmosphere occurs in this instrumental track, which opens the imagination to accompanying imagery.
Era of Chimes
The trance continues - it is impossible to stop reading.
Ocean waves of electronica and Brandon's friendly voice lead us in to this pace-changing track of haunting words and transporting sounds.
Denial in the Moment
You cannot put this book down.
A distort intro and futuristic sounds - akin to a cross between a pocket game and a singing robot - ends on what can only be called a squelchiness. I will leave it to each individual listener to decide if it resembles the end of the hand-held game or a robotic belch!
Lifted
You are now hooked on turning these pages to experience it all.
Crinkly, airy music with Brandon's soft-crisp vox float us across this track. One feels like floating along with the voice. “Just walk away” he sings, but by now one seems to have lost ones feet.
Overdose on Reality
You are lost in the story - life outside the book fades from awareness.
Wispy, electro chunk-tingles, wind-rising gushes, a sprint-beat into a halting brr, a chuffing train, or a DJ's scratch. A confusion of multitudinous interrelating musical sounds lead us into escalating expectation and a descending close.
Altered
The excitement and suspense build.
Electro-train intro to a pace-altering "beat n buzz" sensation. It is as if robots dance at a techno-disco - but then they breathe. Building beats lead us into another level.
Kiss the Stars
This chapter contains crucial, critical moments.
70s style vocals take our ear's hand to lead us into the penultimate track. One is soon running through the musical landscape, then led out again by a second call of lyrics.
Flying Lessons
Time for the delightful and emotional last page.
A beautiful balladic finale sung across an under-beat with echo, containing lyrics that need to be listened to, fading on electric bells.
Closing the book, contemplations and heart still running high, one is tempted to read the whole story through again.
Kiss The Stars
The debut full-length album from Brandon Miles - will be released on July 29th 2008 by Milled Pavement Records.
