Album Review

La Honda – I See Stars

• 4th Nov 2013

Now this is an interesting album. It was recorded 12 years ago by a young band that was gaining some press attention at the time, but unfortunately split up. The original master tapes were recently rediscovered in the archives of Bark Studios in Walthamstowhe and so La Honda’s album I See Stars has now been released at last. The lead singer of the band was the then 19 year old Sarah Joyce – now much better known as multi award winning singer Rumer.

La Honda formed in London when Joyce was a young singer-songwriter working as a waitress and trying to get her music career started. One EP was released in 2001 but then Joyce’s mother became terminally ill and so she moved to the south coast to care for her, resulting in the band breaking up. Now we get a chance to wonder what might have been, as the album has been remixed with acclaimed producer Brian O’Shaugnessy (Primal Scream, Felt) and mastered at the legendary Abbey Road Studios.

I See Stars is very much a sixties inspired album. The sweet, folk inspired pop music and youthful vigour tells of an optimistic young band looking for the big break. It is a good, although not by any means a remarkable, album. Some of the songs are decent and it is easy and pleasant listening, although the retro feel is at times overdone. But as a chance to hear some early recordings from a singer who went on to be a big star it is fascinating.

There are definitely hints in Joyce’s vocals of the style she was to develop in later years. The title track is lovely, with Joyce showing a good vocal range and a depth of feeling in her delivery as well as a warm intensity. Maybe Sunshine has a bigger sound and the vocals here have the deep tone that would become so familiar. And the country tinged duet Rich Man’s Wine sees touches of Karen Carpenter come through strongly.

La Honda’s cover of The Flaming Lips’ track Moth In the Incubator is slow and beautiful, perhaps offering the best vocal performance on the album. The song suits Joyce’s voice, giving her the opportunity to display her clear tone and powerful delivery. And the final track of the album is the first track she wrote, ironically titled The One That Got Away. An acoustic love song that shows deep emotion, it is a surprisingly mature composition.

I See Stars offers a glimpse into the past and we can only wonder where the group might have gone next. What is clear is that young Sarah Joyce was showing great talent at a young age, although that is perhaps not too surprising to anyone who knows her later work as Rumer.

Venue: I See Stars
Support Band: AMS