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Boston, Massachusetts Stars and Garters (Castle Von Buhler) 1996 Halfworld EP (Castle Von Buhler) 1998 Redshift EP (Java/Capitol) 1999 Formed from the ashes of Boston ethereal goth band Sirensong, bandmates Adam Buhler and Kasson Crooker connected with then-Berklee student Melissa Kaplan and immediately began composing genre-bending pop songs. Before their 1996 inaugural gig, Buhler aptly characterized the band's sound thusly: "I come to it with fairly baroque guitar parts, Melissa has a mega-bluesy thing going over the top with her wide-ranging voice and the final edge is Kasson's futuristic rhythm work underneath." Since then, this ambitious triumvirate have fashioned the best futurist pop around on two self-produced releases. Buzz about the band grew so fervent that Buhler and wife/manager Cynthia even boldly hosted an A&R party at their Victorian house (affectionately dubbed "Castle Von Buhler"), where the band showcased in their basement. They soon signed with acclaimed Alanis Morissette producer Glen Ballard's Java label, traveled to LA and spent lengthy amounts of studio time recording their debut album with engineer Bryan Carrigan. While there, the band co-authored two songs with Ballard, then hit the road for a string of 1999 dates including three on the last Lilith Fair. Check out the five-song preview Redshift EP; the snarling techno-rock of A Charming Spell, the playful Brazilian bossa nova of Mayan Pilot and the noirish mood-rock of Ironspy speak for themselves. The edgy, polished pop of Garbage imbued with the quirky sonic sensibilities of Bjork. Full-length debut Blueshift on Java/Capitol in early 2000. Non-EP track Games You Play on the Clubland movie soundtrack. A Charming Spell used in the opening of one Charmed episode. Recent press in Billboard, CMJ New Music Monthly, Keyboard, Seventeen.com and RollingStone.com. --Bryan Reesman