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<.> is a stunning UK debut from Belgian band Showstar: ten pure pop songs, dark and shiny, powerful and gentle, sophisticated and so simple – hard-edged pop with bittersweet vocals, scything guitars and glorious melodies. It is a wholly fresh sound, moving between the massively joyous noise of songs like Mad On Your Sister and Day By Day and delicate guitar, keyboard and percussion patterns on tracks such as Dan and Stereo Songs.

<.> was produced with crystalline clarity by in-demand London-based producer Gareth Parton. Gareth has worked with the Rakes, the Futureheads, Placebo, the Beta Band, the Polyphonic Spree, the Go! Team, Death In Vegas and many others. The album was recorded at Polysound Studio (Brussels) and Fortress Studio (London) over 25 days.

Showstar launched the new album with their first UK gig headlining a special Summerhouse Records night at the Spitz, Old Spitalfields Market, London, on Saturday 12 May 2007.

All songs written by Showstar
Recorded at Polysound Studio, Brussels and Fortress Studio, London
Recorded by Gareth Parton, assisted by Stephan Debruyne (Brussels) and Ben Woods (London)
Mixed and produced by Gareth Parton at Fortress Studio, London
Mastered by Shawn Joseph at Optimum Mastering, Bristol
All instruments played by Showstar except some synths and glocks played by Gareth Parton
String arrangements written by Andy Dragazis and played by Penny Marsden (violin), Kate Marsden (violin), Felix Tanner (viola) and Kate Mumford (cello)
Paintings by Charlotte Beaudry
Artwork by LaBaguetteMagique
Layout by Grincheux
Pictures by Muriel Thies