September 5, 2001
New Rheostatics album due in October
By PAUL CANTIN
Long-time fans of Toronto's Rheostatics may notice that their upcoming album, "Night Of The Shooting Stars", is missing a few things: a concept and guest stars.

The 13-track album, which is scheduled for release in October, is the first "theme-less" Rheos album of new music since 1996's "Blue Hysteria," and the first since 1991's "Melville" to be made without the help of guest players.

"Each song has absolutely no connection to the next," a band representative said, adding that the disc includes a "rock" version of "Song Of The Garden," which originally appeared on their 1999 children's album "The Story Of Harmelodia."

"Night Of The Shooting Stars," which is described as a more straight-ahead rock effort, was recorded at Toronto's Chemical Sound. It was produced by Ian Blurton (Change Of Heart) and mixed by Michael Philip Wojewoda.

The album's title is likely a reference to Paolo and Vittorio Taviani's 1982 film "La Notte Di San Lorenzo," which was released in English as "Night Of The Shooting Stars."

According to Italian folklore, the Night Of San Lorenzo (the literal translation of the film's title) is the night when dreams come true.

Here's the tentative track sequence for the album:

1. Satan Is The Whistler

2. Song Of The Garden

3. Mumbletypeg

4. PIN

5. Superdifficult

6. Junction Foil Ball

7. We Went West

8. The Fire

9. In It Now

10. Here To There To You

11. Remain Calm

12. The Reward

13. CCYPA