Every now and again something comes along so good it’s actually too exciting to listen to. And as Arcade Fire swept away the nation last year and unusually brought people who are musically polls apart together, I genuinely thought this would do the same

Even only seconds into the gloriously heartbreaking opener Lost In Time I knew I would fall in love with Stellastarr’s second album completely and wasn’t to be disappointed. Its epic grandiose melodic gestures, emotionally nervy vocals and slicker than slick guitar riffs had classic written all over them…..

……And so I turned to other companions in the music press, scoured some nationals to see if Stellastarr fever had gripped the industry as it had me, only to be horrified by the reaction. One Broadsheet even had the audacity to award Harmonies for The Haunted 1/5 another 4/10, what were people Fucking listing to? It certainly wasn’t Stellastar and so I went back to try and understand where these people were coming from only to be more confused. Yes vocalist Shawn Christensen does occasionally sound like a cross between Cud’s Carl Putnam and Max Bygraves and Amanda Tannen’s backing vocals can sometimes be a little overpowering but oddly this all adds to the deliberate pomp.

Harmonies For he Haunted, Stellastarr’s second album in an ideal world would have been praised from all corners but clearly reaching out with booming dramatic sentiments smudges the eyeliner and ruffles the angular haircuts of the Talking Heads rip of culture that seems firmly secreted within the industry. The truth is there isn’t a single dud track to this masterpiece. Yes it’s bold and shamelessly theatrical but the tracks ‘The Diver’, Love And Longing’ and the fore mentioned ‘Lost In Time’ are amongst some of the finest crafted songs you will ever hear in 2006.

 I challenge The Arctic Monkeys to produce something with as much spirit and musical diversity. To think this album could disappear without even a footnote in the musical hall of fame is nothing short of a crime.

 10/10 

 James Heward