With a catalog that includes The Smoking Trees, Bed Rugs, Beat Mark, Matsuki Ayumu, and The Sufis, Ample Play has almost become the go-to label for what could be called breezy pop, some leaning more heavily than others to psych, if it wasn’t so impeccably put together. Who doesn’t–deep down inside–love some cheery ear-candy, but when it’s too inconsequential that it just blows away there’s not even an after taste to enjoy, even if it’s not up to snuff. Sudden Death of Stars entrench themselves with the above company further on their second full-length, All Unrevealed Parts of the Unknown, delivering the good times and sweets with enough substance to take a bite out of. Picking up where their debut left off, Sudden Death of Stars open up their sound even more, sounding just a touch leaner without becoming slight and embrace their ’60s pop affection with tighter focus. Based out of Rennes, France there is obviously a European tinge seeping into their ’60s filter, but there are also whiffs of the Velvets at their most upbeat, a Syd whimsy given full spotlight on Why Won’t You Try and plenty of other touchstones (The Byrds, Donovan, The Beatles … ) that flit by swiftly giving the album the buoyancy found on their first, but this time much more assured. Guitars chime, organs chirp and purr, the sitar is still present and integrated deeper into the overall sound, and sleepy relaxed vocals avoid disaffection and indifference … all tumbling into a vibe that is totally carefree without being careless. All Unrevealed Parts of the Unknown uncovers a confidence in Sudden Death of Stars that may have unknowingly led them to drop a brisk Summer album, just in time to enjoy this Spring. [Source]
New Music United 