Monkey Politics from Starseed - the new six-track EP

Monkey Politics, released on 9th May 2025, is the new polymathic EP from Starseed, a distinctive divaricate of the Halifax-based experimental musician Troy Faid.

Described by Tom Robinson of BBC’s Radio 6, as an ‘outstanding songwriter and guitarist,’ (2017) Faid is a mutli-disciplinary musician, a master wordsmith and dexterous performer with a unique vibration.

This latest repertoire of mind-altering melodics offers powerful ascendency with implications of a revolutionary shift in the direction of metaphorical conceptual lyrics.

At his kitchen table, Faid described Starseed as a ‘musical identity,’ a ‘vehicle,’ and a ‘spontaneous stream of consciousness,’ fuelled with the intention of ‘big, solid sound with freedom for improvisation.’ Starseed incorporates Pat Bannon on drums and Adam Richards on live base.

Having taken a break from a full-time music career, Faid has been studying and practicing psychological therapies, developing a keen interest in the egoless Age of Aquarius, futurist themes, and a psycho-spiritual perspectives. Add Timothy Leary’s eight-circuit model of consciousness and Promethean concepts to the mix and Faid’s processual approach to life and intriguing avocation implies a new and innovative soundscape.

Listeners will hear an array of musical influences harking from the New Romantic era, encompassing sounds from the eighties to the nineties including The Pixies, along with keynotes from Pink Floyd and The Smiths. Inspirational figures including Roy Buchanan, Django Reinhardt, and John Cooper Clarke. Similar artists sharing a distinctive discourse with Faid include Chumbawumba, Jason Williamson of Sleaford Mods, and Anthony Szmierek.

Monkey Politics boasts six tracks and is a smorgasboard of musical experimentation, each with individuation and ‘the loop pedal as a primary tool,’ combined with jazz progressions, and minor and modal scales to name a few.

The EP’s first track, Rapscallion, is an autobiographical crowd-pleaser and damn good feel-good-track with juxtaposing feel-the-pain lyrics which commences with an outstanding introduction of tremolo picking. Faid describes his experiences as having an ability ‘to stand back from one’s own pain and see the inherent beauty in everything.’ Listeners will be left with unquestionable imagery of an attentive phone-lit audience swaying while singing the lyrics, “… all my life … every morning I think of you…” each listener pondering its poignant content.

Next up is Higher State where we hear the medicinal properties of Faid’s spiritually expansive journey and his acknowledgement of ‘dancing to the sound of my own tune,’ assigned to his love of music which is ‘capable of communicating pure expression and experience between people in a way that other forms of communication fall short.’

Monkey Politics, the track with the same name as the compilation, offers astonishing lead guitar riffs and solo’s, speaking for itself within the shebang of scandalmongering which exists upon our 3D plane.

Listen to the track, Monkey Politics here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOxZoYkTMGs

Hail the Futants, where Faid makes a ‘deal with the devil’ in a track with another dazzling demon of lead guitar ensemble, offers visuals of life growing up in a northern town, highlighting struggles and suffrage in the face of authority, emerging seemingly unscathed through his love of music.

Perceptions continues this theme, making us question our own complacency, urging us to remain true to ourselves and rise like serpents from baskets, transcending into sentient evolutionary beings. As our misconceptions fade to black, Faid is bright.

Take a self-liberating road trip and belt out Another Illusion. This confirmative finale on the EP, where dues are paid and it’s over-to-you point is made, encourages us all to open our hearts which in turn will open doors and elevate us to a lighter future.

Music has been component since Faid’s early teenage years, and he admits to singing and strumming a variety of instruments daily. This passion is heard, and felt, throughout his work, yet runs much deeper, implying future reveals which will, no doubt, be anticipated by many.

Starseed shines new light above Halifax and its famous Burdock Way and historic Piece Hall. This West Yorkshire town, the capital of Calderdale, is described as the ‘Hollywood of the North’* and like Faid, the new six-track EP is certainly not run of the mill.

Monkey Politics is a relatable amalgamation of past, present, and future, a profound psychoactive awakening containing soulful sorcery from Starseed, who are destined for celestial heights.

Monkey Politics by Starseed is available on Bandcamp: https://starseed-music.bandcamp.com/album/monkey-politics

Written by Shelley Dootson-Greenland (2025)

Contact

Bandcamp: https://starseed-music.bandcamp.com/album/monkey-politics

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/starseedsounds/

Website: https://star-seed.uk/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOxZoYkTMGs&ab_channel=StarSeed

References

*Calderdale College (2024) - https://www.calderdale.ac.uk/digital-creative-centre/

Leary, T (1993) 2nd Ed. The Game of Life. Arizona. New Falcon Publications.

Robinson, Tom (2017) The Tom Robinson Show - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09cln6p?fbclid=IwY2xjawKM3kpleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETAxS2Mwb0V4WmJVVkVRR3VKAR5B1kf1zp6zwyfS3nzqRGGfz6p6ziPtQ428uGTHVQZubYkHy3UHsj-4Rx96-A_aem_-nunyVvIXzakMQLRLR6h5w