Listening to “When the Stars Burn Out,” their second album, it is easy to see why Daydreamer caught the attention they did. This four piece band (Sean Hall: lead vox, guitars, piano; Jason Houtsma: guitars, piano, vox; Jaben Pennell: drums, bass, keys, b-3, guitar, vox; and Sam Martinez: bass) is well-named, as their sound is very not-of-this-earth, ambient and artful. But their focus is tight as a drum, and on a few of these 14 tracks, articulated brilliantly. According to their promo material, they want to offer more than entertainment; it’s transcendence they hope listeners will experience through the music. Which sounds kind of pompous…. until you hear the creative and engaging “When the Stars Burn Out.”
Things start off well with the vibey “Earth and Heaven Collide,” a melodic and stirring mid-tempo song. Thickly textured with layered strings, percussive rhythms, and Hall’s soft vocals, it is a stirring track even before you catch the lyrics. The lyrics on “When the Stars Burn Out” are somewhat uneven: some tracks are moderately good, others are stand-still dazzling. “Earth and Heaven Collide,” imagining the Day the two worlds meet, is one of the latter: “I close my eyes and picture Heaven piercing the sky/ I dream of when the walking souls will pick up and fly/ Skin and bones no longer home for me.”
Daydreamer makes their way through spacey ballads and thick rockers, all solid and accessible, before hitting a mid-album hot streak. “With You” drifts through spacey vocals and some gentle electric noodling before stepping up the energy level. Then it’s passion all the way, from Hall’s emotive vocals, to the dominating drums, to the fiery lyrics. Hall lets the emotion drip freely from his soft tones in the lovely acoustic track, “Greatest Love Story,” the pot greatly sweetened by Julie Hall’s vocals. “Every Hour” is one of a few more straight-forward worship tracks on the album, but then you hit the achingly beautiful “Poetry” and it’s time to hit your knees again. The winning combination of Asia Grzesik’s cello and Hall’s fearless adoration makes “Poetry” a real stunner.
“When the Stars Burn Out” includes a few instrumental interludes, one of which closes out the album, but first the wailing “You Remain” must be mentioned. Its lonely opening is both eerie and lovely, and I’m sure deliberately so, for the song fearlessly examines the dark side of the faith walk. “You Remain” makes excellent use of various strings and again Pennell’s drums stand out admirably. Daydreamer manages to movingly convey the power of faith in the midst of emptiness on this standout track.
“When the Stars Burn Out” is an album that will minister to you in a number of different ways, all of them important. Daydreamer, thanks for the beauty.
