Dawnstar - Saturnine Valentines

On 16 May 2013, Dawnstar's first full length studio album entitled Saturnine Valentines was released.  The album was recorded at the Abnormal Studios by László Philipp and at the Dürer Studios by Dávid Schram in 2012. Saturnine Valentines was mixed by Dávid Schram at the Dürer Studios. The line-up included Attila Wind (vocals and guitars), Bálint Hamvas (bass), and Viktor Albert (drums).

There are two swans forming a heart on the cover probably suggesting the main theme of the album, love. Indeed, the first song of the album, Love's Gonna Be Tender, is a love song, probably about gay love as the abbreviation of the title suggests LGBT. The second track, Ophelia, is another ode to a woman, written by the singer-songwriter, Attila Wind. The drums are really interesting in this track. It reminds me of the Wham's If You Were There. The third track, Almost Every Flame Will Fade Away, is a sad ballad about the end of a relationship. The record continues with a real rock song, In Heaven We Meet Again, which reminds me a classic indie-rock song. However, the lyrics is about the death. In an interview with Dawnstar, Attila Wind said that the song is about the death of his father. Cougar De Luxe is another love song probably to an older woman as the title indicates. However, the lyrics are rather sarcastic. The next track, London Nights, had been played by the band as early as 2009 (for example at the Donaukanaltreiben Festival), is another song about love. The song starts with an acoustic guitar playing some chords and then becomes a pulsating pop-song. The penultimate track, Live Today, belongs to the songs which were written around 2009, uses a flanging guitar in the first few seconds and then the song becomes a real rock song. The final closing track, Aphrodite, is an instrumental ode to a woman.

All in all, Saturnine Valentines, is a brave debut by the Hungarian band Dawnstar. There are nice an promising moments in the album such as In Heaven We Meet Again and London Nights. However, there are certain songs, such as Love's Gonna Be Tender, which are cliches that should have been avoided to list on the record.

Tracks:
1. Love's Gonna Be Tender
2. Ophelia
3. Almost Every Flame Will Fade Away
4. In Heaven We Meet Again
5. Cougar De Luxe
6. London Nights
7. Live Today
8. Aphrodite

Dawnstar:
Attila Wind - vocals and guitars
Bálint Hamvas - bass
Viktor Albert - drums

Personnel:
László Philipp - recording
Dávid Schram - mixing
Attila Wind - producing

The Junkie Monkey score:
Composition: 4/5
Musicianship: 3/5

Originality: 3/5

Recording: 4/5
Overall: 3.5