When Aimee Echo and Jamie Miller formed theSTART, they had no inkling as to the prophetic nature of the band’s name. But like a classic self-fulfilling prophecy, theSTART would rise to the vanguard of the new New Wave, alongside the Faint, Le Tigre, Ladytron and a handful of others.
Over the course of two acclaimed albums and one EP, theSTART’s modern eclecticism and rock hooks have earned them a devoted following and a reputation as trendsetters of this new millennium. Additionally, they’ve won considerable acclaim for unfailingly compelling live sets, having shared stages with a wide range of popular acts, including Garbage, The International Noise Conspiracy, Weezer, AFI, and Offspring. (Echo recently completed a string of dates singing for dance rock act Teddybears, including an appearance with the band at this year’s Coachella festival.)
With “Ciao, Baby,” the band’s third album, theSTART are still living up to their name: they’ve only just begun to hit new heights creatively. The album is a rich collection of songs that finds the band delving into ever-more adventurous aural terrain, incorporating elements of experimental, electronic, and dance forms, fused with the rousing dark wave hooks and textures that have defined them over the course of their career. Thematically, they continue to explore complex issues of identity, desire, and politics – both personal and global – through Echo’s enigmatic lyrical prism.
The couple created “Ciao, Baby” themselves (working closely with engineer Brian Virtue at his home studio). Miller composed the music and played every instrument on the record, with Echo writing all the lyrics and singing every vocal part. The intensive song development process shows in the final result: ten tracks that find the band at a new plateau in their passionate creative mission.
From the call to emotional arms of opening track (and leadoff single) “Wartime!” to the sultry groove of the closing title track, “Ciao, Baby” is a major step in the ongoing evolution of one of the most exciting bands in independent rock today.
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