Root Stars - Point of Origin

Root Stars

​Point of Origin
self-released; 2015

3.3 out of 5

By Ted Rogen

Root stars is the solo project for Martin Fagan who recently released Point of Origin. The sixteen- song demo quality release feels like a number of loose ideas. When it comes to production and recording quality there is still a lot to be desired. I really couldn't understand the lyrics even with a nice pair of headphones. The songs are hit and miss. Some of them display moments of potential while others fall a bit flat.

The first song “My Ever Expanding Universe” is a highlight. Fagan combines reverb-laced guitar with a fairly infectious vocal melody and subdued drums. The lyrics are cosmic and existential. He sings, “Walk with me under a faultless sky / I love the beauty of this moment / You are my little star / In this ever expanding universe / We look for meaning a cosmic code / You make sense to me / Do the great things you are meant to.”

“I Can See Both Sides Now” has some moments that work but also feels like a psychedelic amalgamation of sounds that are deflated. It’s an unusual sound and something that is best just heard. 

“Born To Be” doesn’t fare as well as the first two songs and feels especially dissonant. By the time I got to “Indigo” I felt like Fagan desperately needed to switch up the very limited palette of sounds. Every song contained reverb-laced guitar and they were starting to sound interchangeable. As the album progresses there are some highlights including “Piece by Piece” and “Room at the Top.”

At the end of the day Point of Origin isn’t an easy album to get through because the sixteen tracks sound similar. My advice to Fagan is start experimenting with different sounds and working with more talented people, which is also bound to help.

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