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James D. Stark
Dying Beauty MCD

Posted: Thursday, March 30, 2006
By: Ilker Yucel
Editor

James D. Stark proved with his debut album, Fortress in Solitude, that he is going to be a rising star in today’s gothic music scene. The album was filled with intense electronics and emotional lyrics the likes of which would make other bands in the genre like The Crüxshadows run for cover. As a follow-up to the album, Stark unveils the Dying Beauty MCD, a collection of remixes of the opening track, as well as a new song. The original album version of “Dying Beauty” presents Stark’s sense of melancholy melody delivered by his heavenly voice, with electronic arrangements befitting a baroque classical piece. The new song “Aidra” is more up-tempo, with ghostly ambience and pulsating tones playing overtop a stomping club beat, perfect for the dance floor. The remixes of “Dying Beauty” are at best a mixed bag. Underground, Inc. head honcho Martin Atkins gives a remix that transforms the original into an ‘80s synthpop romp that sounds embarrassingly similar to Berlin’s “The Metro.” Winterstahl’s remix is not much better, coming across like any number of today’s futurepop stars. It is admirable that these mixes took such a somber song into more upbeat territory, but they end up sounding uninspired and like typical club tracks, which can only hold interest for so long and could have easily been done without. The remix by Tristraum is where things start to pick up, emphasizing the original’s melodic elements and infusing them with some great synthesizers and a steady beat that is no less danceable. The Chinese Theatre remix is similarly slower, using the vocals to provide more in the way of atmosphere. Tom Shear makes an appearance with the Assemblage 23 remix; his is one of the best on this MCD, mixing faded ambience with some energetic IDM-style drum n’ bass percussion. Closing things off is the acoustic piano version of the song, courtesy of Stark himself. The Assemblage 23 and Tristraum remixes were excellent, but this piano version is by far the best version of the song, next to the original. Stark’s passion comes across even more so as he plays a spirited version that shows just what a classical range the man has in his music. With some good versions and a new song, the Dying Beauty MCD plays as an excellent complement to Fortress in Solitude, solidifying James D. Stark’s place as one of the great new stars to come into modern music.