Listening to the complexity of their sound it’s hard to believe that Helen Stellar is only a threesome: Jim Evens (vocals & guitar), Steve Bishop (bass), and Clif Clehouse (drums). The line-up came together in late 2000. Each musician was inspired by hometown Chicago acts like Smashing Pumpkins but soon realized that their own band was achieving a sound not easily compared to other artists. And nothing took priority over trying to preserve that originality.
Influences like The Verve, Spiritualized and My Bloody Valentine back up such a single-minded and independent purpose. What they’re doing now is setting their own standard of musical integrity, braving mass-produced Top 40 monotony. Helen Stellar’s music and lyrics come from keeping open to all possibilities, long or short, make-believe or real.
Their music may be good but it’s not too good that it alienates the masses. Radio loves Helen Stellar; in particular, high-quality independent frequencies that like to promote the best of the best. Helen Stellar have been featured on WXRT 93.1 FM Chicago, and performed live in the studio at WORT 89.9 FM Madison as well as on “Morning Becomes Eclectic”, the world-renown morning slot at KCRW – where they were only the fourth unsigned band in the show’s history to be invited on air. On April 12, 2002, the Wall Street Journal mentioned “unsigned Chicago band Helen Stellar” in an article on KCRW, stating how Harcourt had received the Newton EP and deemed it worthy for regular play – “Soon, two of its brooding, spacey cuts were on the air.”
Now with three EPs under their collective belt, Helen Stellar has laid claim to a brave and beautiful sonic niche combining the best elements of space-aged electronica and legendary rock ‘n’ roll. Their hearts will continue to lead them to new places in melody, structure, and sound.
For more information, visit their website: http://www.helenstellar.com
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