I’ll admit, I was nervous watching The Go Find in the months leading up to the release of their second album Stars on the Wall. Such is natural after a band releases what is one of the truly great, overlooked electronic albums of recent memory, their debut Miami. Beyond the initial hopes that the first album was a brilliant fluke, The Go Find gave me more room for fear. Dieter Sermeus is the front man, and Miami was mostly a solo album; a lap-top/guitar pop album that fizzled and popped, but went down smooth as honey all the same. But this time around, Sermeus decided to surround himself with the cohorts of what became a full band. Add to that the fact that Sermeus admittedly had been listening to Fleetwood Mac a lot, and the artwork is an atrocious creation that looks like it was done in Microsoft Paint (as was the first album’s, though) and I couldn’t help but be worried at the outcome. When I listened to the album and realized it was nothing like Miami, though, I wasn’t disappointed. Stars is like the older brother. For better or worse, it’s more mature, developed, more refined songmaking.

Stars begins with a science fiction synth cycling through a keyed riff, before more atmospherics start to glow. Sermeus’ voice then comes in like a youthful, higher octave Ben Gibbard, introducing us to the “Beautiful Night.” What follows is a mix between the velvety smooth jam sessions like “Dictionary” and “New Year,” of which the latter could be seen as an updated cut of “Dreams” on Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours. In fact, The Go Find have lifted the trademark thumping percussion from that album almost entirely. Combine it with the swirling, plush, backing synths and Stars is another electronic gem, gleaming and shining almost as bright as its predecessor.

Sure, they haven’t left behind the total electronic sound of Miami, but it’s not nearly as inorganic as the lap-pop of the debut. Sermeus’ distinct voice, is the unifying constant face of the band. Though the songs may not be clipped and pasted together, the songwriting is much the same. Sermeus has a genuine talent for songwriting. As much as this is an electronic album, the songwriting is just as smooth as the production. The debut Miami showed what a great songwriter Sermeus really is if you stripped away the processed lap-pop sounds to find the folk hidden underneath. He continues his casual songwriting and brings it to the forefront in a few stripped down tracks like “Downtown,” which features twin acoustic guitars playfully exchanging as Sermeus’ saccharine voice sings, “Memories are fading/Friends have left town/If all the world is changing I’d like to keep this place safe.” More of the same a few tracks later with “Monday Morning,” a heartfelt layered acoustic ballad. The downright folk tracks are a remarkable change of pace from the electronic jam sessions, and they are sometimes a needed space for regaining your breath under the weight of what could otherwise be overbearing synths.

The contrast between the processed electronics and the organic acoustics could be very eclectic, but The Go Find have done an amazing job of keeping with a singular mood in which this album glides on. Sermeus is never imposing. He seems completely comfortable and fully aware that his album(s) have the laid back capability of capturing the listener without breaking even a bead of sweat. The melody, the mood, the production is effortless. “Everything is Low” captures the essence of the album perfectly. The six minute slowbuilder floats on the air of steady rising synths and pulsing guitar leading up to a tidal wave of layered, ambient sound.

The Go Find have surely created another electro-pop guilty pleasure. Stars is like taking a top-down convertible ride through the strip. It glows brightly with confidence and is just as sweet and seductive as the debut promised. And with a talent like Sermeus behind the wheel, there is no doubt The Go Find will continue in good hands.

The Go Find Official Site
Morr Music