Outrageously cool...
Straylings produce the most bamboozling Anglo-American cross-breed sound since the Osbourne kids first opened their mouths and let those peculiar accents flow freely into our earholes. The London-based duo sound so authentic in their scuzzy Stateside 'backstreet bar' vibe that it is quite a surprise to learn about the positively melting pot nature of their background that produced their beautifully crafted record, Entertainment On Foreign Grounds.
The day that Bahraini/Austrian songwriter Dana Zeera teamed up with the instrumental talents of guitarist Oliver Drake, was a match made in alt rock heaven. The resulting creative explosion led to the critically acclaimed production of last year's debut EP; but this latest release marks the truly triumphant arrival of Straylings onto the scene. It's a dreamy, yet edgy journey through the smoke-filled haze of curious places and mysterious moods. They excude class, elegance and an astonishingly calm sense of power in each understated track.
As we said at start, Americana is the prominent flavour of this album, and it is served up in refreshingly evolving forms. The Saguaro is wistful and rock n' roll in equal measure before moving into the haunting country twang of The Spoils. Bitter Face traverses through dusty landscapes before returning you to a dark corner of a bourbon-soaked bar in Kings of The Mire. This subtly transcendent ability to create movement and pace makes Entertainment On Foreign Grounds an album of great sophistication, as well as carving out an irrepressibly cool identity.
The glorious sound of unpolished female vocals layered over the steady reverb of twanging guitar will naturally invite comparisons to the likes of PJ Harvey, but Straylings are offering something different here. It's compelling and it's as inviting as an outstretched hand offering to lead you through somewhere new. It's effective in conjuring a mood and can creep hypnotically into your vulnerable mind. Straylings can do exciting things with the music they make and it's most deserving of attention.