Surfacing

Turning the spotlight on musicians making a commercial breakthrough.

-- CASEY DOLAN

“Centuries Before Love and War”

Stars of Track and Field

Sidecho Records

Artist info: This trio from Portland, Ore., plays an anthemic, textured rock reminiscent of British bands of the mid-’80s or ‘90s, particularly on the misspelled single, “Movies of Antartica.” But a greater sonic range is exhibited on this debut album. The absence of a bass player and the use of keyboard bass encourage the threesome to explore the digital domain further, and odd noises, beats and effects surface throughout the album. Vocalist Kevin Calaba pulls on the heartstrings in songs such as “Real Time” while exotic samples jockey for position amid arpeggiated guitars and angelic harmonies.

Back story: The crucial moment in Stars’ history is when the bass player left two years ago. Calaba, Jason Bell and Daniel Orvik decided not to replace him, opting to merge traditional rock sounds with digital ones. The band released an EP, “You Came Here for Sunset Last Year,” in 2005 that sold several thousand copies. A successful appearance at SXSW led to a deal in 2006 with Southern California indie label SideCho. Under the same production team that had helmed the EP, Tony Lash (Dandy Warhols, Elliott Smith) and Jeff Saltzman (Stephen Malkmus), “Centuries Before Love and War” was released in digital form on iTunes last August. The reaction prompted this week’s CD release.

Influences: Cure, Radiohead, Pink Floyd

Trivia: The band’s name is taken from the title of a Belle & Sebastian song.