‘Sister of the Sun’, the recent single from The Hanging Stars, is the stuff of ethereal dreams, floating up into the musical cosmos on the twinkling stardust of Patrick Ralla’s keys and echoing guitar. Paulie Cobra’s percussion and Paul Milne’s woozy bassline are hypnotic, pulling us into the band’s shimmering sounds, which are matched by this sun-bleached video, drowning in yellow bursts of light. Most striking are the four-part harmonies and soaring backing that elevate Richard Olson’s soothing, smooth voice; it’s a joyous vocal performance that reaches back into the music of decades past.
The sixth album from The Hanging Stars is due out on Loose Music in the first half of 2026. ‘Sister of the Sun’ is an early taste of what’s to come from their collaboration with producer and longtime friend Gerry Love (Teenage Fanclub/Lightships) alongside regular collaborator Sean Read. Following the success of 2024’s critically acclaimed “On a Golden Shore” and subsequent tours, the band headed north to work on the new record at Edwyn Collins’ Clashnarrow Studios in Helmsdale, Scotland. The result is absorbing cosmic folk, timeless and brilliantly crafted. Lose yourself in this.
