Dubstar

Pithy, poignant, and at times deep and bitter, the underrated British trio, Dubstar, gave the world some expertly composed and executed gems of Indiepop. Chris Wilkie played deft and tasteful guitar parts, while Steve Hillier crafted sophisticated harmonies on keyboards. The memorable Sarah Blackwell delivered her cool vocals with perfect intonation and a Yorkie accent.

Dwelling beneath the appealingly polished surfaces of their sound were profound observations of intimate human experience. Music this light has never been so heavy. The Day I See You Again is a positively chilling account of making a date with an ex. Elevator Song is a sweet ode to promised fidelity. Ghost conjures up images of loneliness and loss (I'll trace the whole world to find your ghost, but wherever I go I'm alone) that any songwriter would envy.

Their biggest hit, the wondrous Stars, is simply a miracle. This is the place where mere Pop attains the plateau of bliss:


It’s best to go straight for Stars: The Best of Dubstar, as some of the previously unreleased versions of songs on it are better than the originals.