The jaunty horn section screams Broken Social Scene, the keyboard part is giving me Dismemberment Plan flashbacks, and as ever, the vocals are pure Stereolab-inspired Euro chic. Yes, New Jersey's own Starcleaner Reunion are back in action and sounding sublime.
Today's offering "Weather Instrument" is the band's first official single since their 2024 debut EP Café Life, though they've popped up on a couple benefit compilations in the past year. The new song arrives just ahead of Starcleaner Reunion's appearance at the New York music festival Total Bummer, which is coming to the Knockdown Center this Saturday and Sunday. (These guys are on Sunday with the Jesus And Mary Chain, julie, TAGABOW, Drop Nineteens, Her New Knife, Lathe Of Heaven, and Blair).
That brass action, by the way, comes from the Ladybug Transistor's Gary Olson, as Starcleaner Reunion singer and tambourine shaker Jo Roman explains:
"Weather Instrument" explores the idea of home, whether that be a person or a space. It’s about trying to follow the sunshine as it illuminates the comfort of that home’s familiar contours, and we wanted to land on that musically. Asking Gary Olson of The Ladybug Transistor to feature on trumpet brought out the best, clearest representation of that feeling, while lyrically yearning for something just out of focus.
Listen below, where you'll also find new West Coast tour dates with Bully and Blondshell.
TOUR DATES:
05/31 - Queens, NY @ Total Bummer Fest (Knockdown Center) ~
10/14 - San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park *
10/16 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern * ^
10/17 - San Francisco, CA @ Castro Theatre *
10/19 - Portland, OR @ Crystal Ballroom *
10/20 - Seattle, WA @ The Showbox SoDo *
~ w/ Jesus & Mary Chain, They Are Gutting A Body Of Water, Drop Nineteens & more
* w/ Blondshell
^ w/ Bully
"Weather Instrument" is out now on Take Care Records.
