Five Brits. Start a band. Find a sound. A stadium rock sound. British media compares them to the eponymous U2 and Radiohead. Sound familiar? Maybe. Sounds refreshing? Surprisingly yes! It's a pleasure to introduce Lo-Star to Australian audiences, a band that's starting to make big waves in the mother country. So much so that they've even been invited to perform next month in the legendary Texan musical extravaganza that is SXSW.

The band has built a reputation for enthralling and invigorating live performances all about the streets of their native London, including a surprise rooftop gig that drew a crowd of thousands and might have given the Beatles (or the 'Bee Sharps', for Simpsons fans) a run for their money. Coming to the attention of the British public through the release of 'Wake Up', their first single and a charity single no less (see UK Burma Campaign), and then to music industry heavyweights including Hugh Padgham, Adrian Bushby, Damien Taylor and Ian Dowling. If those names don't sound familiar, then check out the roll call of artists these guys have been associated with: Sting and the Police, Phil Collins, Foo Fighters, Doves, Kasabian, Snow Patrol, Kooks...the list goes on. Impressed yet? With these heavyweights in your corner you have to expect that their debut album is going to be something special.

The team at theAUreview are therefore delighted to say that having been given a sneak peak at four tracks off their upcoming LP the hype is justified. Whilst lead singer, Adam Harris, has a powerful voice there is also a yearning quality to it, especially on melancholic tracks such as 'Why So Low'. On other occasions though, such as 'Won't Be Your Enemy' and 'Vanished World', his vocals soar over driving beats (credit to an extremely accomplished rhythm section) and catchy hooks are in abundance: "when I dream, I dream of a vanished world/when I wait, I wait for you there/when I run, I run to a vanished world/when you're lost I wait for you there." It's their quietest moment though, that gets me the most excited, on track 'Closer To The Sun' minimalistic guitars and tinkling piano provide the perfect backdrop to gorgeously understated vocals from Harris. This then builds to a heart-pounding and anthemic crescendo, well-suited to a Wembley Stadium (or an Acer Arena closer to home).

Whilst it's too early to make any claims to greatness or even legitimate comparisons with more established artists, I find that at their most sentimental they are evocative of an 'Elbow' and in their more symphonic moments I can't help comparisons with Muse. If that grabs your attention, like ours, then keep your eyes trained here and your ears open for what should be an exciting journey for Lo-Star and music fans alike.

'Vanished World' is available as a free download from Lo-Star's Official Website
and  Lo-Star's debut album 'Closer To The Sun' (working title) will be released later this year through Lupo Entertainment.