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The Life We Planned EP

by My Raining Stars

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1.
Mirror 2 02:46
2.
3.
On His Own 02:52
4.
5.

credits

released November 4, 2022

All songs by Thierry Haliniak
except Mirror 2: music & vocals by Thierry Haliniak, lyrics by Gilles Ramey

Recorded during the "89 memories" sessions between november 2021 and march 2022

Electric guitars, keyboards and vocals by Thierry Haliniak
Drums, bass and acoustic guitars by Casper Iskov

Mixed and mastered by Casper Iskov

Sleeve by Amandine Shoe

Thanks to Casper, Amandine, Maud Anyways and Marianne


MRS Records


REVIEWS:

"Mirror is one of the most perfect songs ever" Lilly Marfy

"I like this a lot! 35 years ago, you’d have been on Creation Records."
Ronnie Carnwath from Cobwebs and strange radio show about Mirror

"This EP is great. I didn’t want to include it for brevity sake. However if I didn’t, I’d feel as if I were doing myself and the band a disservice. So here we are. Stiff competition due to my fanboy status of Bob Wratten, Beths etc. Also the newly discovered bands above that are of similar feeling. So the cohesive and consistency of the songs compels me to add this EP. Secondly, Mirror 2 and the title track are worth it alone but the whole EP flows like fondue at the perfect temperature."
John Desmet from Meatsheet Fanzine

"Always a pleasure to find the guitar-pop art of Thierry Haliniak. His songwriting always has that classic and unmistakable taste that looks to the past, the 80s we would say, but this does not bother us at all, given the good taste with which Thierry faces his mission of "musical recovery". The 5 tracks of this EP (present only on Bandcamp) are children of the same sessions that led to the creation of the valuable "89 memories" and, if we want, add little to what is already known about My Raining Stars, yet it is always pleasant get involved in the guitar solemnity of a song like "What Can We Do", by the whipping of "Mirror 2" and, above all, by that "The Life We Planned" that reminds me of The House Of Love."
Riccardo Cavrioli from Indie For Bunnies

"Thierry is back with 5 more songs, recorded during the 89 Memories sessions and all are very good. Listening to Haliniak's music, you can tell he's a big fan of labels like Creation and Sarah. He was in charge of the vocals, electric guitars and vocals while his cohort, Casper Blond , who mixed and mastered the record, held down the bass, drum and acoustic guitar duties. "What Can We Do", the longest song on here at 4:05, is pretty straight-forward with a solid drumbeat and some nice lead guitar work, while "Summer's Gone" is similar but the tempo is slowed down a bit more (but still has the tasty lead guitar). "Mirror 2" kicks things up a notch and is more upbeat, while the closing title track is a charming acoustic cut (the other cut, "On His Own" is low-key and slightly trippy). Again, I'm glad these songs got released and if there's any other outtakes left, please send ‘em our way "
Tim Hinely from Daggerzine

"Let's put it this way: if I were to make a playlist right now, I'd take Ride's Today and right at the end I'd insert Thierry Haliniak's “The Life We Planned” featuring My Raining Stars. I still don't know what the theme of the set would be -probably something related to nostalgia and guitars- but I am sure of something: these two songs would make a perfect dumbbell to crush your heart in a few minutes and then you will be left with a smile wet with melancholy in the face, reflecting at the end with this, one of the sweetest melodies of the year that life is not a fairy tale."
Alex Bueno from Svmusica

"It can be said that, unless we are lucky, the life we plan for ourselves is rarely the one we find ourselves living. Life, as the saying goes, is what happens when we are busy making other plans. However, often the life we fall into becomes better than the one we planned, so there is a strange happenstance, a kind of let it slide and see what happens about where we find ourselves in the end. I say this purely to illustrate the new release from My Raining Stars, a five track ep entitled ‘The Life We Planned‘. Arriving just after their excellent ‘89 Memories‘ album, which rode the crest of the summer wave, this ep looks to carry on the vibe as we head into winter,with long, dark, cold nights headed toward us rapidly…Opener ‘What Can We Do‘ sets the marker from the outset, kicking in and running with the flow, grasping the energy of the guitars and the drive of the drums, the lyrics ride along, even allowing for the slightly sad edge to them, the line “…please don’t wait for better days…” a case in point. Of course, that is one of the curious inherent juxtapositions between the music and the lyrics to a song, a sad sounding song can have the most joyous lyrics, yet a happy, bouncy song can contain the darkest lyrical context. A lovely guitar throb opens and bookends the track, can almost taste it…delicious. Up next is ‘Mirror‘, a track from the ‘Obvious Reasons‘ ep, released in 2020, during which the pandemic had taken a hold of the world. The track has been given a remix for this release, it breezes along with a jangle and bounce, picking up on the tempo of the opener and taking it further and letting go of the reins. All too soon it ends, and you’re left wanting more…Which comes in the shape of ‘Summer’s Gone‘, where the feel is one of wistfully mourning the end of summer. You recall what I said about how songs can juxtapose lyrics and music, well, this song is a perfect opposite to the previous one, the pace is more in line with the words in the song, but is no less enjoyable for that. I can hear a bit of Mark Gardener, he of shoegaze legends Ride of course, in the vocals, it could almost be the four lads from Oxford, perhaps a track that would not seem out of place on ‘Weather Diaries‘, or maybe ‘This Is Not A Safe Place‘. After that glowing reference, the jangly, sparkle of ‘On His Own‘ bounces along with the punchy, incessant thwack of the drums and the percussive flutter, before it closes out after all too brief a journey, it fades out just like a sparkler…as with any journey, the ride is the most enjoyable part. The ep closer and title track is an acoustic driven piece, which sort of ties in with what I said at the outset here, about the life we live not being the one we hoped for. As the song progresses, the sense of regret is what prevails, as hopes and dreams are seemingly dashed, but the need to try to make the best of things begins to emerge. To end on a positive note, this is an excellent ep from the band, a warmth and joy comes out of the sadness, where things may not be as you had hoped, but you can still feel a sense of something good coming out of the unexpected change in circumstances you may find yourself in."
Wayne Walls from The Keeper Of The gaze

"My Raining Stars: and lastly this top release, “The Life We Planned EP”! So good! 5 songs that were recorded during the sessions of their album “89 Memories”. Thierry Haliniak band is top class on this record that is now on Bandcamp and that he has promised that it wont be on digital platforms. Very recommended!"
Roque Ruiz from Cloudberry Cake Proselytism

"The Life We Planned is the newest recorded effort from French dreampop outfit, My Raining Stars. This EP offers five catchy and contemplative indie pop fingers that together form a fist that packs quite the emotional gut punch. The EP kicks off with “Mirror 2” which has a feel that combines all the best parts of guitar-based pop rock music from the 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s. The locked in drumming and guitars are shot into space with twinkly and starry-eyed synthesizers. The vocals have a longing and emotional quality with tight harmonies that emote feelings of anguish and possibly regret. “On His Own” begins with a lanky, delayed and phased guitar riff that lumbers around the big, snappy snare drum hits. This track would be right at home in the dramatic scene of a 1980’s movie where someone is walking in slow motion as it rains. “Summer’s Gone” has another great opening guitar line as we are asked to reflect on the fact that summer is gone and dreams are broken. This melancholy song does a great job of conveying the feel of a cold, rainy autumn day, perfect for reflecting on loves and dreams lost. “What Can We Do” has big ominous crunchy guitar chords and a bobbing and weaving vocal line that meanders through the little distorted guitar licks and those star-struck synths. The track also has a great melodic solo that delivers the final blow of this track.The title track serves as the record’s farewell. A pared-down affair that begins with a lone strumming guitar and the same yearning vocals that have been with us the entire time. A militant snare drum slowly joins in and after several tension-building measures bursts into a blaze of distorted guitars. We are treated to one final mesmerizing guitar solo before we are left in the somber and destitute state the EP does such a great job of conveying. The Life We Planned is available now.
John Brouk from Start-track

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some say My Raining Stars sounds "C86 meets Sarah Records meets Creation Records, who knows...

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