Unless by some chance you were in Britain over the last few months, you probably have not heard of the band Starsailor. Luckily, with their recent debut release “Love is Here” on Capitol records, you now have the opportunity to witness the musical capabilities of this downbeat yet impressive foursome.

After listening to a few songs on the album, it should come as little surprise to hear that the band is named after an album by the late folk singer Tim Buckley, father of ill-fated singer/songwriter Jeff Buckley. The younger Buckley’s influence is obvious throughout the album, which uses soft piano and acoustic guitar to support singer James Walsh’s emotion-driven voice while he sings sad lyrics such as “I need to be alone while I suffer.”

Although Starsailor is already being categorized as “Britpop” here in the US, this classification is misleading, since their music is far from any type of “pop.” In fact, most of the songs on “Love is Here” fall into the category of “gloom and loss,” although this should not be considered a bad thing. While the lyrics may seem a little melodramatic, the band is still surprisingly compelling. The music is deep and moody, conveying emotion in and of itself, and Walsh’s voice is unique and captivating.

While most of the songs on “Love is Here” push vulnerability buttons, such as the emotion-drenched first song “Tie Up My Hands” and the depressing yet sweet “She Just Wept,” Starsailor also offers a few surprises, such as the uncharacteristically peppy song “Good Souls.”

There is a lot of hype around Starsailor right now. This may lead some people to be wary of the tear-inducing band, but to miss out on “Love is Here” would be a shame for anyone who enjoys a great new band and possibly an excuse to cry.

Starsailor is James Walsh (vocals and guitar), James Stellfox (bass), Ben Byrne (drums), and Barry Westhead (keyboard). The band is currently on a US tour supporting Charlatans UK. For more information, visit their website at www.starsailor.net.