Stars Of Aviation

Stars Of Aviation, Shimura Curves at London Monto Water Rats, Sun 06 Aug

Review by Mike Diver

Shuffling awkwardly, between-song banter delivered with a tinge of shyness, the band look, initially, as it they’re about to be totally overpowered by the minority in the house that feel it necessary to talk their way through a set they’ve probably just paid to see...»

Monto Water Rats

Train: Kings Cross (6 mins)

Tube: Kings Cross (7 mins)

Capacity: 200»

Stars Of Aviation

Band Members and Roles

Jonny Anstead = guitar and singing
Andy Schofield = guitar
Nathan Oxley = keyboard and singing
Tim Jaggard = drums
Louise Anstead = vocals, recorder and keyboards
Chris Snead = trumpet

Biography

Stars of Aviation met in late 1998 in their first university Russian lesson. A year later, they started playing music together the following year, and recorded their first demo in 2000, which was played by John Peel on Radio One.

They released the Greatest Disappointment EP on their own label in 2001 and their next record, Snow on Snow EP in 2003, on the wonderful lo-fi label Kitchen Records. Recorded in an oak-panelled library, the record was praised by in publications in the UK, US and Europe, described by Tangents as "a sweeping success, conjuring up notions of Galaxie 500 sucking on The Pastels, or The Clientele riding Telstar Ponies into the sunset".

Since 2003, Stars of Aviation have grown in number to seven and settled in Brighton and London. They have spent their time listening to Serge Gainsbourg and Jacques Brel, and performing with some of their favourite bands – including Herman Dune, Blanket, The Clientele and Sodastream, as well two appearances at the Truck Festival.

At the start of 2006, Stars of Aviation finally got round to recording again - this time with Brian O'Shaughnessy (Primal Scream, Clientele, The Firm). One wet February weekend in North London, they recorded 'Marie et l'accordéon', a cheery, French, bossa nova softpop track with boy-girl harmonies, la-la-la-ing, trumpet and bassoon parts and an accordion solo.

The new single is released on Kitchen Records on 21st August 2006, available on limited 7" and as a digital download.

Influences

Jim Reeves, Low, Danielson Famile, Grandaddy, Morrissey

Life Changing Albums

Danielson Famile – "Fetch the Compass Kids"
Saïan Supa Crew – "KLR"
Sidney Thompson And His Orchestra – "Latin American Fiesta: the songs of the Beatles"
Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci – "The Blue Trees"

Contacts:

Official Site
MySpace
Email

»

Shimura Curves

"They sit a few rows away from St Ettiene and The Shortwave Set, riding the kitsch pop Routemaster, giggling." - The Fly

Shimura Curves are a 4-piece band made up of Kate (ex-The Lollies), Miss AMP, Marianna, and Anna Fielding. Casio-tastic backing tracks, co-ordinated dancing and poignant/ surreal lyrics abound.

MySpace link»