goodtime. DAIISTAR

Another album from 2023 that was slated for the days before Christmas, until Covid intervened. DAIISTAR has released a nice rocking album with a good dose of psychedelia, without necessarily copying what is out there already. Take opening song 'Star Starter'. The song starts like it was recorded underneath the waterline, matching the art work. Then the drums come in and we are above the surface alright. The song rocks, has nice dark overtones, the fuzz pedal is no stranger to this guitarist. Guitars come in from everywhere in the choruses. In the verses things are more bare, creating great dynamics. The solo is like an elephant given an effect pedal to blow his trunk through. Anyone who was not aware of goodtime having started, surely is now.

DAIISTAR uses familiar elements, sure, with up front a singer who is a mild helium addict from the sound of his voice. What sets the band apart for me, is the rock sound the album opens with. This band rocks and then throws in psychedelics.

Who is DAIISTAR? This is the band's debut album, so the question is justified. The band is from Austin, Texas, and formed only in 2020. The members are Alex Capistran (voice, guitar), Nick Cornetti (drums), Misti Hamrick (bass) and Derek Strahan (keys). Following the release the band toured the U.S. as support of The Dandy Warhols and The Black Angels. Both not that strange choices. Alex Maas of The Black Angels produced goodtime. Although there certainly are similarities, just listen to the intro of 'Tracemaker', Maas helped making sure that DAIISTAR is it's own band.

goodtime contains a lot of sounds that are interesting to follow. I'm lucky to have a vinyl copy, so the warm sound of the album graces my living room regularly. Listening to the album on vinyl certainly adds to the experience. DAIISTAR was able to add numerous extras to the songs and did not mind playing and experimenting with the effect pedals lying around the studio.

With a song like 'Purified' the album offers a psychedelic ballad as well. One that explodes in the chorus, sure, but as such is a beautiful song. I love how it plays itself out. How the band can successfully reproduce the song (and most others) live with only one guitarist, is beyond me. There are several nice layers of guitars in most songs.

goodtime is an album that grew on me. With each spin the album kept growing and still does. Give it a few more weeks and in retrospect the album should have had a spot in my top 30 of 2023. That can't be changed anymore. Sometimes things are what they are. You've understood that this is an album to check out, starting with The Black Angels fans and take it from there.

Wout de Natris

You can listen to and order goodtime here:

https://daiistar.bandcamp.com/album/good-time