star path - It's Easy To Feel Good When You're Already Happy

STAR PATH

It's Easy To Feel Good When You're Already Happy
self-released; 2015

3.7 out of 5

By J Simpson

Except for when it's not… It's Easy To Feel Good When You're Already Happy, the first physical release from Lansing, MI Ian Eberhart aka Star Path is divided in half. The A-side (this album is on a cassette) is an aural snapshot of how Eberhart experiences anxiety, "like looking at the world under a microscope," losing himself in details, being swept by interests, until the fear and tension takes hold. Anyone who has experienced procrastination due to an Internet rabbit hole can surely relate to the emotions Eberhart is talking about.

The B-side is the aftermath - all burnout and bubbling confusion, amorphous and ominous, although not without moments of wonder. The A-side is like running through levels of Super Mario Bros, high on Adderall, while Side B is like floating in an infinite warp level void.

It's Easy To Feel Good When You're Already Happy is Eberhart's first solo output, after spending years in bands - the first a chaotic improvisation outfit, and the next, an emo/screamo/shoegaze outfit, that just called it quits in January.

Eberhart learned a lot from these projects, particularly the use of fuzz, tapes and distortion from the shoegaze band, all of which he incorporates into Star Path, along with a decade-long interest in production. Eberhart uses Fruity Loops to make his beats, but he manages to produce something sterling from such humble origins.

Eberhart didn't have much chance to explore texture and ambiance with his former outfits so the loss of his two bands may be the world's gain as he has a knack for it. Fans of electronic-style shoegaze, like The Sight Below, Boards Of Canada, Casino Versus Japan, et al., along with electronic-influenced indie rock, like Yoshimi-era Flaming Lips, or perhaps The Postal Service, minus the emoting, will surely get down to this!

An ambitious, auspicious debut! Highly recommended! 

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