Reviewed by Philippa McCracken

From the second you start listening to Sixstarhotel you know that you've discovered something a little bit different. The first full length record from the four-piece Northern Irish rock band follows a previous four-track EP. On the first listen some of the tracks seem a little too noisily anarchic, but on further listening, there is a subtlety and depth that leads to a real appreciation of a band determined to forge something fresh in the increasingly stylised rock field. The versatility of the lead singer's voice gives rise to a variety in the tracks that can be rare with this kind of music. However, it's quite hard to define what 'this kind of music is'! Really, how would you classify a rock band that uses trumpets, cellos and violins? Maybe odd in theory, but its brilliance can't be captured any better than it is in "Blame Strangers", just one of the guitar-loaded tracks. This isn't simple music and it takes a few listens to really appreciate it, but with this collection of original, uninhibited rock songs, could it be that Sixstarhotel are on to something here?

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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