Gerr Walsh’s ‘When The Stars Don’t Work’ is gentle at first, but soon settling deep into your chest with its warmth and quiet intensity. A heartfelt tribute to the bonds we share with our parents, even long after they’re gone, the track meditates on love, loss, and the memories of those who shaped us.
It begins with a soft drum roll, setting the stage for a vast, immersive and shimmering soundscape. Then comes Walsh’s voice, thick, breathy, and charismatic, carrying a tone of anticipation and quiet excitement. The delivery makes you lean in as if he’s letting you in on something deeply personal. The chorus lands beautifully, with Walsh singing, “I only need you when the stars don’t work,” a line that lingers like an unanswered question in the night sky.
As the track builds, the bridge offers one of its most moving moments: “Will you bring me hope when there is no hope to bring?” The weight of that line, delivered with raw sincerity, cuts through the dreamy instrumentation, making the emotion feel all the more real. Influences like Ron Sexsmith, Prefab Sprout, and The Blue Nile shine through in the song’s lush, melancholic atmosphere, but Walsh’s own voice—both literally and artistically—is what makes it stand out.
With Walsh’s next album set for release in September 2025, ‘When The Stars Don’t Work’ is a glimpse into something special. To keep your connections alive in your heart, hit repeat on this single.
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Photo credits: Photoby-RuthMedjber
Review by: Naomi Joan