A band doesn"t exactly have to be a real band to make great music together. Take Pell Mell for instance: the musicians (including Northwest producer/musician Steve Fisk) actually reside in places scattered across the U.S., and occasionally convene to make a record. After releasing just a handful of albums in more than a decade, Pell Mell have once again assembled a remarkable collection of innovative instrumentals. Star City, which along with Fisk features Greg Freeman, Robert Beerman, and David Spalding, is an expressive collection of ambient-inflected new wave/no wave pop tunes. The performances by all the players are outstanding and it"s simply unbelievable that these four don"t even live in the same city, much less the same state. The quality of interaction and interplay necessary to pull off the intricate and gloriously melodic songs that fill Star City is far beyond the capability of most bands after years together. A new record from Pell Mell is a rare treat and Star City is indeed a fine addition to this unique band"s discography. For a pleasant dose of smooth, playful modern pop, this just can"t be beat. --Adem Tepedelen