Toy Club by My Raining Stars

Songs by Thierry Haliniak Produced, arranged and mixed by E-grand Mastered by Mark Gardener at OX4Sound Guitars and keyboards: E-grand Drums and Bass: Casper Iskov Backing vocals: E-grand, Mathea and T Haliniak Dedicated to Stéphanie & Pierre Haliniak Thanks: Didier, Ed, Emmanuel, Casper, Maud, Marianne, Agnès, Dan, Amandine ======== REVIEWS ======== "Great work with this album . It was a pleasure to Master …’It Will Take Me A While’ I think is my favourite but loads of great tracks here." Mark Gardener "Few artists embody the timeless spirit of indie pop quite like My Raining Stars. For more than two decades, French songwriter Thierry Haliniak has quietly built one of the most consistent and heartfelt catalogues within the European dream pop scene, drawing inspiration from the jangling guitars, intimate songwriting and bittersweet melodies that defined the golden era of British indie music. With Toy Club, released on July 10, 2026, My Raining Stars return with an album that feels both deeply personal and beautifully reflective, celebrating friendship, memory and the enduring power of shared musical journeys. The story of My Raining Stars stretches back far beyond the project's official beginnings in 1998. Before launching the project, Thierry Haliniak played in the early 1990s band Nothing To Be Done, sharing stages with influential groups such as The Boo Radleys, Adorable and Moose during one of the most exciting periods of the British indie scene. Those formative experiences left a lasting impression that continues to shape his songwriting today. Throughout the years, My Raining Stars has become synonymous with a particular strand of dream pop and indie pop rooted in the legacy of the C86 movement, Sarah Records and Creation Records. Delicate jangling guitars, gentle shoegaze textures and elegant pop melodies have remained constant features of Haliniak's music, creating songs that feel nostalgic without ever becoming trapped in the past. Following early home recordings on a modest four track cassette recorder, My Raining Stars gradually developed into a richly rewarding discography that includes From St Saviour To Quickwell, Obvious Reasons, 89 Memories, The Life We Planned and the critically praised Momentum. Toy Club feels like the natural continuation of that journey while simultaneously looking back to where it all began. Released jointly by American label Shelflife Records and the French label Too Good To Be True, based in Brest, the album carries particular emotional significance through the reunion between Thierry Haliniak and longtime friend Didier Frahier, better known as E Grand. The two musicians first played together more than thirty five years ago in Nothing To Be Done, making this collaboration far more than a simple musical partnership. It represents the continuation of a friendship that has accompanied much of their creative lives. The recording process perfectly reflects that shared history. Thierry Haliniak prepared the core of each song with demos containing the essential structures, including drums, bass, rhythm guitar and vocal melodies. Didier Frahier was then given complete creative freedom to expand those foundations through additional guitars, keyboards, arrangements, production and mixing. The result feels less like two musicians working separately than two longtime collaborators instinctively completing one another's musical ideas. Returning contributor Casper Iskov once again provides bass and drums, while backing vocals from E Grand, Mathea and Thierry Haliniak enrich the album's warm and intimate atmosphere. Final mastering was entrusted to Ride vocalist and guitarist Mark Gardener at OX4Sound, bringing additional clarity while preserving the organic character that defines the record. At its heart, Toy Club is an album about time. Rather than simply celebrating the past, it reflects upon the relationships, memories and shared experiences that continue to shape who we become. Throughout the record, Haliniak explores nostalgia not as an escape but as a way of understanding the present, acknowledging both the beauty and the inevitable sadness that accompany the passing of years. That emotional focus is particularly evident on Fine, one of the album's most affecting moments. The song reflects on youth, friendships that have faded, missed opportunities and the quiet acceptance that certain places and moments can never truly be recreated. Yet instead of becoming overwhelmed by regret, the song embraces memory as something precious, allowing melancholy and gratitude to coexist beautifully. Even the album's title carries profound autobiographical significance. Toy Club takes its name from the Lyon venue where Thierry Haliniak and Didier Frahier spent countless evenings discovering music and performing together during the early years of their musical lives. In many ways, the album becomes a full circle moment, reconnecting the musicians with the place where so much of their creative identity first took shape. Musically, Toy Club remains wonderfully faithful to everything that has made My Raining Stars so beloved among fans of classic indie pop. Bright jangling guitars shimmer beneath warm vocal harmonies, while subtle keyboard textures and understated shoegaze influences enrich the arrangements without ever overwhelming the songs themselves. Every melody feels carefully crafted, every chorus effortlessly memorable. There are echoes throughout the record of the timeless elegance associated with the finest releases from Sarah Records and Creation Records, yet My Raining Stars never feel nostalgic for nostalgia's sake. These songs possess a quiet confidence that comes only from an artist who has spent decades refining a distinctive musical language while remaining entirely true to his own sensibilities. What makes Toy Club especially rewarding is its remarkable sincerity. Nothing feels forced or calculated. Instead, the album unfolds with the natural warmth of musicians reconnecting through shared memories and a lifelong love of beautifully crafted guitar pop. That authenticity gives the record an emotional resonance that grows stronger with every listen. With Toy Club, My Raining Stars deliver one of the most touching and accomplished albums of their career. It is both a celebration of enduring friendship and a meditation on the passage of time, wrapped inside eleven beautifully written songs that honour the past while continuing to look quietly towards the future. A graceful and deeply heartfelt collection where dream pop, indie pop and cherished memories come together to remind us that the most meaningful journeys are often the ones that bring us home." Martial MrClean from Thusblog "Readers of the webzine may remember: back in 2008, My Raining Stars was already featured on the fourteenth volume of our compilations. Seventeen years later, the band has lost none of its ability to write songs that seem to transcend time. Listening to *Toy Club* brings back memories of my college years. The days after Bernard Lenoir’s radio show, when I’d hang around outside Vitamine C in Reims, hoping to get my hands on the latest releases that were making waves in *Melody Maker* or *NME*. A time when every record I discovered felt like opening a door to a whole new world. What strikes you right away is precisely this timelessness. The guitars never need to raise their volume to make their presence felt. They often stay in the background, letting the melodies breathe with rare elegance. It’s pop that spans the decades without aging a bit, like the perfect soundtrack to our years of first loves. It’s impossible not to think of *The Wonder Years*, that TV series that, for many of us, continues to evoke a certain idea of youth. This impression is undoubtedly also due to the way Toy Club came to be. The result of a reunion between Thierry Haliniak and his longtime collaborator Didier Frahier, the album is based on an idea as simple as it is clever: trusting a fresh perspective to reinvent songs that had already been written. It’s a collaboration that never erases My Raining Stars’ identity, but instead breathes new life into it. Some songs, however, seem to go straight to the heart with disconcerting ease. “In His Heart” lives up to its name admirably. It’s a true heart-stealer, the kind that makes an impact without any fanfare, simply because it immediately finds its place within us. And then there’s that delightful sensation the entire album evokes. Like a Proustian madeleine enhanced with a simple hint of mint. The memory is definitely there, but it never succumbs to easy nostalgia. It retains its freshness intact, as if time had finally decided to spare these songs. The main flaw of this kind of album is also its greatest strength. It immediately makes you want to dig out those boxes full of records you bought on impulse at the expense of a few student meals (Ride, Oasis, La’s…), to dive back into a record collection patiently built up over the years, and, incidentally, to fall a little behind on everything else. But what a pleasure it is to lose track of time when a song like “As Far Back” reminds us that nostalgia can be touching without ever becoming heavy-handed.Toy Club isn’t trying to revive an era. It simply reminds us that a great song is timeless. And that sometimes all it takes is a few crystal-clear guitars to rediscover, intact, the almost adolescent joy of falling in love with an album." Gerald De Oliveira from ADA Webzine "Just one year after the excellent *Momentum*, My Raining Stars is back with nine songs influenced by ’90s British pop. With its impeccable melodies and Britpop guitars, “Toy Club” is another hit that will delight fans of Ride and Oasis. On his Facebook page, Thierry Haliniak (the man behind My Raining Stars) regularly shares songs by British bands (usually from the ’80s or ’90s). Some are obscure and forgotten, others are better known, but they all embody a certain vision of indie rock—the kind we used to listen to back when we discovered new music through Bernard Lenoir or *Les Inrockuptibles*. “Nostalgia,” the grumblers will say. No doubt… But one can also see in the sharing of these YouTube videos an affirmation of an aesthetic that Thierry Haliniak shares with some of the great names in British rock, from Ride to the Charlatans, and of course, Oasis. Last year, *Momentum*, My Raining Stars’ third album, had us raving. It had been a long time since we’d heard a pop album that was so immediate and successful. With *Toy Club*, My Raining Stars keeps the good times rolling while drawing on the roots of their history. Thierry Haliniak entrusted the arrangements for these new songs to Didier Frahier, with whom it all began in the early ’90s. Back then, the two men were part of Nothing To Be Done, a band now forgotten but which enjoyed its moment in the spotlight by opening for the Boo Radleys and Moose. Since then, Didier Frahier has been recording his own (very good) songs under the name E-grand, but the two musicians have remained very close. Didier Frahier arranged My Raining Stars’ debut album (From St. Saviour to Quickwell in 2008), so it was he who mixed this impeccable *Toy Club*, which was mastered by a certain Mark Gardener. It’s easy to imagine the pleasure—and the emotion—Thierry Haliniak, a huge Ride fan, must have felt when entrusting his songs to one of his musical heroes. Never stuck in the past, My Raining Stars’ music doesn’t feel dated; on the contrary, it shines once again with its immediacy. It only takes two or three listens for these songs to sink in and for us to start humming them. Right from “Wherever,” you can hear Thierry Haliniak’s knack for writing simple songs (guitars, bass, drums) that are perfectly melodic. The rest of the album follows suit, with a few standout tracks worth highlighting. “Silent Girl” is undoubtedly the most moving song on the album. Further on, “In His Heart” and “Fine” are two beautiful pop songs imbued with a melancholy that suits Thierry Haliniak’s delicate voice very well. We could go on listing every track on an album that shines for its cohesion and concludes beautifully with the lovely ballad “Till The Times Comes To Leave.” Musically, My Raining Stars has likely never been closer to the Gallagher brothers’ band, the Oasis of *(What’s The Story) Morning Glory* or *Be Here Now*, minus the bombast. Of course, it’s difficult to compare the production of those two Britpop classics to Toy Club’s more artisanal approach. My Raining Stars’ new album obviously isn’t in the same league, but one can’t help but admire the talent of this modest (another difference from the Gallagher brothers) and touching musician." Grégory Seyer from Benzine "Thierry Haliniak describes the music he makes as My Raining Stars as where Creation Records meets C86 and Sarah Records. I agree, but this is not a record that is in thrall to the past. It's more a record that is recovering something magical that could otherwise be lost. At its heart, this record is a collaboration between Haliniak and E-Grand that goes back 35 years to their first band together. They have an understanding that makes something special. E-Grand draws out a pitch perfect feel for what serves Thierry best. His production is restrained and empathic, and the album is fuelled by the spirit of generosity and friendship between them. It's about what is important in life as well as in music.'Toy Club' is an album with its roots in the jangly shoegaze that is alive and kicking in France (and Belgium) at the moment. It's a version of shoegaze that warms the heart rather than wallowing in introspective, sluggish gloom. It results in an upbeat momentum that can be heard in every track here. 'Fine', for example, romps home with the urgent spirit of knowing it's perfect and wanting to be heard. To English ears, Thierry's vocals are shyly exotic. They're a big part of the album's charm, and they strike home from the opening track, 'Wherever'. These are songs drenched in melody more than reverb . Listen to 'Kind of Light' once, and you'll want to play it again, immediately. 'Till The Time Comes To Leave' is a classic closing big ballad, its fading 'la la la' refrain, staying with you long after the song is over. It's also the sweetest parting from an album destined to be a constant presence in your life for some time.Thierry hints that this could be his final collaboration with E-Grand. I sincerely hope not." Chris Weeks from Popintherealworld "Toy Club," the new album by My Raining Stars, also marks the artistic reunion between Thierry Haliniak and Didier Frahier (E-Grand), with Haliniak inviting his longtime friend to arrange and mix the record. A heartfelt tribute to British indie pop, Toy Club carries the bittersweet flavour of years that never truly fade away. Much like the timeless music that inspires it, the album gently stirs conflicting emotions, balancing bright, almost carefree melodies with darker undercurrents. Running through it all is a subtle connection to dance music – the effortless elegance of songs brimming with restrained energy.Throughout the album, benevolent shadows drift alongside a soothing yet exhilarating light. Tender memories intertwine with infectious rhythms, rekindling the sacred fire and reaffirming an undiminished love for indie music that endures through every trial. Toy Club is not a nostalgic record. Rather, it is a vibrant expression of an enduring creative devotion to dream-soaked pop and meticulously crafted songs, polished like sonic jewels." Yan Kouton from Indiepoprock "Reigniting a musical collaboration that began in the 1990s, when both musicians were members of Nothing To Be Done, Thierry Haliniak has temporarily handed over the creative reins of his My Raining Stars project to his longtime friend Didier Frahier (of E-grand). This transition has given Frahier the creative freedom to infuse the project with his own distinctive spark, resulting in an album that is both as fresh as it is eclectic and perfectly tethered to subtle gaze inflections courtesy of Mark Gardener’s (Ride) mastering. The opening trio—“Wherever,” “Kind Of Light,” and “Silent Girl”—immediately sets the tone, immersing listeners in jangly, dulcet melodies, and are joined by the closing “Till The Time Comes To Leave,” in evoking memories og the finer moments of The Chameleons. Midway through the release, songs like “In His Heart,” the standout “Fine,” and “It Will Take Me A While” further develop this sound, offering increasingly resplendent, jangly riffs reminiscent of more recent acts such as The Radio Field and Hanemoon. These tracks highlight the band’s ability to balance nostalgia with a vibrant, contemporary edge. However, the album never lingers too long in subdued introspection. It’s frequently enlivened by bursts of energy and stylistic variety, as heard in the ’90s power-pop punch of “Priceless” and the Lightning Seeds-inspired guitar pop of “As Far Back.” These moments of contrast keep the listening experience dynamic and engaging. This latest incarnation of My Raining Stars seamlessly bridges the past and present, blending jangly indie pop with inventive twists and bursts of energetic surprise. The result is a cohesive yet varied album that both honors the Haliniaks’ roots and looks confidently toward the new shifted horizons and possibilities provided by Frahier’s different vision." Darrin Lee from Janglepophub "It seems that after sharing his 10 favorite songs of 2025 exclusively with S&V, Thierry Haliniak got down to work on the culmination of his new studio album with My Raining Stars; This great project of the most nostalgic pop that your ears have heard after the end of the nineties. In this way, released with the labels Shelflife and Too Good To Be True (and mastered by Mark Gardener of Ride), Toy Club reaches our ears, with nine tracks. The reunion with E-Grand for this production brings its natural chemistry due to the long friendship that exists between this pair of independent musicians and singer-songwriters, and it is perceived in its melodies of light, its sober arrangements and the solid instrumental base that privilege emotion over excess. This is an album that looks to the past without getting caught up in it, celebrates the passage of time and the bonds that survive over the years with a serene and deeply melancholic elegance." Alex Bueno from Sound and Vision "In the late 1980s, Thierry Haliniak, the frontman of My Raining Stars, discovered the indie music scene of the time by regularly frequenting the Toy Club, a small club in Lyon where he discovered bands like The Stone Roses, MBV, The Charlatans, and so many others. His fourth album is thus an opportunity to pay tribute to that golden era, especially since it was there that he first met Didier Frahier, aka E-grand, with whom he formed Nothing To Be Done. E-Grand serves here as producer, arranger, and mixer for this delightful album *Toy Club*, on which he also plays guitar and keyboards. We’d like to take this opportunity to mention that E-Grand released a splendid album last March, *A Place No God Will Ever Find*, available on his Bandcamp. Continuing down the list of collaborators, My Raining Stars carries on the adventure with the excellent Danish multi-instrumentalist Casper Iskov, who previously appeared on *Momentum*, the band’s 2025 album that Marianne had—quite rightly—praised so highly. The icing on the cake is that none other than the great Mark Gardener handled the mastering for *Toy Club*! The singer-guitarist from Ride must have felt right at home in his OX4Sound studio, given how deeply the nine tracks on *Toy Club* delve back into the ’90s—starting with the fabulous “Fine,” whose original version dates back to 1992, and an early version of “Wherever” that could very well have found its place on *Nowhere*. “My Raining Stars,” however, goes far beyond the scope of a somewhat nostalgic tribute thanks to melodies as immediate as they are timeless—such as “Silent Girl” or “Priceless”—bringing the band closer to a group like The Loft, which picks up where it left off as if the years didn’t matter. A good song is still a good song, and Toy Club is brimming with them—from the catchy and moving “Kind Of Light” to the superb guitar work on “Till The Times Comes To Leave,” a grand closing track that leaves you torn between singing along to the chorus with a smile on your face or shedding a little nostalgic tear. A splendid “Silent Girl,” beautifully played and sung; “In His Heart,” as lovely as Teenage Fan Club; “As Far Back,” where a guitar traces pretty arabesques around a silky rhythm section—and there we have it: a truly beautiful Toy Club album, warm and moving. “My Raining Stars” still shines just as brightly in the Auxerre sky; the indispensable Brest-based label Too Good To Be True (Toy Club is also available on Shelflife Records) gives us the chance to reach for such beautiful stars!" Seb from Addict Culture "Following the sublime and widely reviewed “Momentum,” released in 2025, My Raining Stars—aka Thierry Haliniak—is back with “Toy Club,” an album that has matured into a much-needed outlet, driven by tones that are both nostalgic and liberating. While for “Momentum” he had given very precise instructions to the talented Danish musician Casper Iskov, for “Toy Club,” Thierry Haliniak gave his friend Didier Frahier—aka E-grand—complete freedom over the arrangements, production, and mixing. He was right to place his trust in him. We’re particularly fond of “Wherever,” “Silent Girl,” “Kind of Light,” “Fine,” and “As Far Back”—true indie-pop gems with that instantly recognizable sound that is the hallmark of My Raining Stars. The arrangements are precise, finely crafted, and subtle. Sumptuous, crystalline guitars; a strong, impeccable rhythm section with (huge!) bass lines and drums handled by Casper Iskov. The mastering was entrusted to Mark Gardener of Ride, a key figure in the ’90s shoegaze scene and a major influence on Thierry Haliniak. Thierry’s voice carries melodies that give the album its distinct identity. That voice with which he so perfectly delivers the words he has written—already so far away, yet still so close. Words delivered raw, with modesty and restraint, and that is precisely where their strength lies. With “Toy Club,” My Raining Stars delivers a deeply liberating album, with cathartic power and soothing tones. Hope, once again." Katia Royère De Bastiani from Bibliothèque Haute Vienne "In addition to familiar artists who’ve been reviewed on this site more than once, previously unheard musicians often find their way on here as well. Such is the case with French creator Thierry Haliniak and his project My Raining Stars. Having connected earlier this year via Social Media, a notification of his recently released new album piqued curiosity. Titled “Toy Club,” the collection is a collaboration with longtime friend Didier Frahier (E-grand), whom he has known for over 35 years. The process involved Thierry sending stripped-down demos of songs he wrote to Didier to shape and arrange the overall sound while preserving the original vocal melodies and song structures. What came out of that are nine indie dreampop tracks that draw from late 80’s and early 90’s Creation Records, C86 and Sarah Records influences. To put further emphasis on that, the album was mastered by Ride lead vocalist Mark Gardener. The title "Toy Club" pays tribute to the small club in Lyon, France where the two friends first met and discovered the British indie music that had a profound influence on them. Released on Shelflife Records in the US, and Too Good To Be True in the UK and Rest of the World, a careful listen and detailed review of this music follows below. Opening track “Wherever” kicks things off with chiming indie-jangle guitar chords that instantly grab your attention. It’s primary 4 chord progression soon commences, fully formed with drums and bass. While verses are melodic and lyrically sincere, the chorus hits hard with the title word embedded in catchy hook lyrics “wherever you are, I do my best, I don’t on tight and try to live as good as I can.” Tasty electric guitar leads follow over those slashing guitar/bass/drum rhythms. Follow-up cut “Kind Of Light” features a chunky guitar rhythm in the style of The Rolling Stones ‘Under My Thumb.” Lyrically focusing on love that starts out well but eventually turns bad, the double-time chorus states “you do not need me to bring this new kind of light in your life.” Ethereal background vocals on the second chorus pass through and songs end-out add a dreamy quality to it all. Third entry “Silent Girl” builds out of an easy groove shuffle, powered by drummer Casper Iskov (who also plays all the bass guitar on this album). It’s heart-tugging and emotional when Thierry sings “I can’t believe I won’t see you again” and “nobody knows how much I miss you.” Brilliant lead guitar work bridge all the passages together seamlessly. “In His Heart” is a poppy whimsical number recalling how friends helped “to fight the lack of confidence that was inside him.” An instantly likeable, catchy melody where “comfort” in “difficult times” are remembered and “engraved in his heart.” Midpoint track “Fine” emphasizes rich keyboards, jangly strummed guitars and that ever-present rock-solid bass & drums rhythm section. Thematically wrestling with the wonder of youth and how that diminishes over time, “you would give everything to feel that way again.” However, you come to “realize everything has changed and nothing feels the same” because of so many “regrets.” The subject of sudden loss is explored on the track “It Will Take Me A While.” Embedded in a jangly guitar driven, heartfelt song are the emotions dealing with having “to accept your absence.” While one can only “wonder if you can seem me from beyond,” all that is left to do is “honour your memory.” “Priceless” bursts forward as a hard charging rocker. Understanding that “freedom is priceless, and I know that time files,” the desire to “stop wasting my time” becomes paramount. The overall relentless driving progression gives this one a more punk-pop feel. Penultimate track “As Far Back” is bass guitar heavy and groove oriented, with it’s descending chord progression and sinewy guitar figures. A thank you song to “Dad” for his sacrifices and dedication to his children’s happiness. Final song “Till The Time Comes To Leave” uses acoustic guitars to lead the way through this power ballad. A variety of audio textures accompany the story telling, none-the-least being some brilliant electric guitar melodies. A particularly enchanting higher-register background voice joins in on a chorus that goes “we will dance all night she said, we will dance till the morning light.” With that voice joining in on subsequent passages, the title line comes into focus when “it’s time to say goodbye.” Dave Cromwell "I do have a soft spot for the British pop and indie rock from the 90s. The French musician Thierry Haliniak also participated with the group Nothing To Be Done, which also included Didier Frahier (E-grand), and shared the stage with Moose, The Boo Radleys and Adorable, among others. In 1998, Haliniak continues as MY Raining Stars, which operates in the same corner. He usually plays moody mixes of indie pop, dream pop, jangle pop and shoegaze, which nostalgically remind you of the heyday of the 90s. For his latest album Toy Club, the approach has been different. He has invited Didier from his former band to arrange the album. Didier selected his favorite songs from a series of demos and received stripped-down versions with only the essential elements. This gave him complete creative freedom to approach the material with mainly guitar and keyboards. The only conditions were the preservation of the original vocal melodies and song structures. Casper Iskow added bass and drum parts. Then the whole thing was mastered by Mark Gardener (Ride) with a 9 track album as a result. The title, before one starts to think anything strange, comes from a small music club in Lyon, where the music friends met. The album again draws from the aforementioned sources and is wonderfully melancholic, but it also contains a fresh energy and something sparkling. This puts them somewhere between Pale Saints, The Blue Aeroplanes, The Field Mice, Autumn Leaves, The Bats, Bubblegum Lemonade, Sophia and the aforementioned bands of yesteryear. This has made this an excellent album" Jan Willem Broek from Subjectivisten "Thierry Haliniak hails from Auxerre, proving that geography has little to do with one's ability to make beautiful music. Yet Toy Club, his new album under the My Raining Stars banner—jointly released by transatlantic indie labels Too Good To Be True and Shelflife—takes us straight back to Lyon in the early 1990s. Arriving in the city from a small village on the border between the Nièvre and Yonne departments, the young indie obsessive—rarely seen without a Stone Roses T-shirt—naturally found himself feeling a little less out of place. Becoming a regular at the Toy Club soon led to friendships that have now lasted more than 35 years and to joining his first band, the impeccably named Nothing To Be Done. Their legacy can still be found on the now-obscure cassette compilation Des Gens Simples, released by the long-defunct Brest-based label Ora Pro Nobis. As a delightful footnote, it also happened to feature the very first demo recordings by a then-unknown local musician named Christophe Miossec. By his own admission, Thierry lacked both confidence and technical ability at the time, and was quickly shown the door. It would take another fifteen years before he finally released his own songs on his debut album, From St Saviour To Quickwell. That historical detour is far from incidental. As its title suggests, Toy Club is both an affectionate tribute to those formative years in Lyon and the product of a creative process that places longtime friend Didier Frahier—better known as E-grand—at its very heart. The very person who once asked him to leave his first band has remained close enough over the years to be entrusted with the artistic direction of this new record. Thierry writes the songs, records fully realised demos with his regular Danish collaborator Casper Iskov on bass and drums, then hands everything over to Frahier, giving him complete freedom to re-record every guitar and keyboard part in his own style. It's an unusual collaborative approach whose results differ noticeably from last year's Momentum, but above all it's built on complete trust, resulting in an album that feels both sincere and creatively invigorated. That said, this is hardly a radical reinvention. The two friends still share an unwavering love of 1990s British guitar music—equal parts indie, noisy pop and Britpop—and mastering engineer Mark Gardener was never likely to steer these nine songs into dramatically different territory. Instead, the record proudly embraces the genre's enduring strengths: bright, instantly memorable melodies; shimmering clean guitars that occasionally swell into controlled bursts of distortion without ever becoming overblown. The ground has already been won, nostalgia included. But so what? There's absolutely nothing wrong with a collection of beautifully crafted songs reminding us just how timeless this music remains. Against all expectations, it continues to span generations, whether through enthusiastic newcomers or, as here, seasoned musicians whose passion remains entirely intact. Just as Lyon's indie kids once danced the night away at the Toy Club, it's easy to get swept along by this album's many highlights. We were already familiar with the excellent lead single Fine, which perfectly set the tone, but the remaining eight tracks are every bit its equal. The radiant Kind of Light shines brightly, while In His Heart strikes an immediate emotional chord. Silent Girl charms with its warm, baggy-inspired groove, and It Will Take Me A While wears its Songs From Northern Britain influence proudly, its glorious guitars making it arguably the album's standout moment. Closing track Till The Time Comes To Leave provides a graceful comedown, even if it lingers a little longer than necessary. My Raining Stars has never tried to be anything it isn't, yet Thierry Haliniak has quietly assembled a thoroughly respectable body of work that continues to win over an ever-growing international indie-pop audience. Signing with a label as highly regarded as Shelflife says plenty in itself. Time moves quickly, and Haliniak knows it. His relentless pace of writing and recording perhaps reflects a desire to make up for years spent pursuing other things, when deep down it always seemed inevitable that making guitar-pop records would become his greatest passion. No doubt the young man walking into Lyon's Toy Club for the very first time already knew as much." Olivier Henry from Sun Burns Out "On “Wherever” My Raining Stars so evoke a melancholic late 1980s UK guitar vibe it was like I was transported back to Manchester’s Arndale walking street. “It Will Take Me A While” from the same LP Toy Club is pretty sweet as well." Dennis Pilon from Poprockrecord