New Release: Strangers In A Strange Land

Whether the band got its name from the Book of Exodus or were big fans of author Robert A. Heinlein, their music is rich, provocative, and unique. This band clearly possesses its own personality and style. Old friends Paul Kopf and Alec Palao put together some tunes during the pandemic. That period of isolation resulted in eight songs you need to hear. These two musicians have collaborated before, as bandmates in The Seeds and Tall Poppy Syndrome, and together created Strangers In A Strange Land in 2016. After a debut album and a few singles, the band has released this self-titled gem.

The first single from the new album, “World in Action,” dropped a month ago. That song gave listeners a preview of coming attractions, which does not disappoint. Kopf, with the perfect rock ‘n’ roll voice, gives the song a most distinctive sound. Palao wraps it all up with guitars, bass, and keyboards. On the drums is the renowned Prairie Prince (Journey, Jefferson Starship, XTC). The opening track is a most excellent “Broken Tambourine,” produced by the great Shel Talmy (The Who, The Kinks). To make this thing even better, Clem Burke (Blondie) shows up on drums while Jonathan Lea (Jigsaw Seen, Dave Davies) plays masterful guitar on the track. If there’s a second single, I vote for this one.

The album is a mix of moods. “29 or 134” drops the tempo a tad with a beautiful arrangement (not to be confused with Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4”). “Poison Chalice” again reunites Talmy, Burke, and Lee, along with horns and strings. The band masters a 60s feel but succeeds in a wonderfully produced and contemporary sound. They simultaneously straddle the 20th and 21st centuries with no smoke or mirrors to be found.

Just when you figured out how they do it, along comes the wicked instrumental “Choucroute (Thème des Étrangers),” with a European vibe matching the album artwork. Choucroute is a term used by the French media to describe Brigitte Bardot’s tousled hairdo from the early sixties, which appears to also be a theme song, of sorts, for the band. The airy/dreamy vocals belong to Kopf and Alison Faith Levy. Following is another beauty, “Xylazine,” basically an ode to a veterinary tranquilizer. “If she’s not there I will go to extremes.” Rife with fluegelhorn, harp, and string arrangements, this one has a lot of moving parts. Dina Maccabee is responsible for the increased value on several songs here with her elaborate and formidable string arrangements.

Now that the listener is in a relaxed state comes the true rocker “Night Gallery” with Kopf pleading, “What am I living for / Goddamned insomnia / Unlike any nightmare / This is metaphysical warfare.” We’ve all been there. And if you crank this at bedtime, you’re guaranteed to get zero sleep anyway. The closer, “A Pagan Place,” displays the band veering into near-experimentalism. Kopf’s voice is right in your face and the music, nearly classical, manifests itself in a genuinely emotional way.

These Californians know what they’re doing. And while they may admit to reminisce of simpler musical decades of yore, an argument can be made for the freshness and relevance of their music, which seems timeless, fitting perfectly in the 2023 soundscape. Please support the band and buy this record at their Bandcamp site!

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