Dark Star

England's Dark Star originated when three ex-members of Levitation joined forces: vocalist-guitarist Christian Hayes, bassist Laurence O'Keefe (the Hope Blister), and drummer Dave Francolini. The resulting sound mirrors that earlier group's dense, intricate arrangements and sharp guitar textures, though without the contributions of guitarist Terry Bickers. Their first release, the Graceadelica single, arrived in late 1998, followed by I Am the Sun the next March. Twenty Twenty Sound, the full-length LP, surfaced a month afterward, drawing largely favorable reviews while making little commercial headway. About 3AM served as the third single in support of the album, joined by an array of multi-format pressings and remixes. The band maintained a demanding tour itinerary that included opening dates for the Longpigs.