Stranger To Stranger- Casting Shadows LP
Been a bit since my last post, at least by my standards. I’ve spent the past few weeks revisiting a lot of my 7”s and making new rips of quite a few of them, as well as a few that haven’t been posted/have been posted elsewhere. You’ll see some of those soon, but for now, you can check these posts for new rips:
Berlin- The Metro 7”
Jus D’orange/Red Rain Coat 7”s
Fatidic Seconde- Le Drakkar 7”
Message- Dernière Nuit 7”
Troops For Tomorrow- Songs of Joy & Faith 7”
I’m So Hollow- Emotion/Sound/Motion LP (LP only)
Minimal Synth mystery corner 7”
Excentrique Noiz- Dark Crystal Day 7”
Repetition- A Still Reflex 7”
Modern Eon- Fiction Tales Plus (VBR rip thanks to Jeff!)
Luxembourg- La Cible 7”
Sensation- Trafic 7”
Ahab- Party Girl 7”
Ultime Possibilité- Errance 7”
I’ve ripped a few new acquisitions too, so with that in mind, here’s an LP that’s appeared elsewhere on the net thanks to Fantod Under Glass, but I finally got my hands on a fresh copy for maximum listening pleasure. Fantastic debut release from Stranger to Stranger, a Philadelphia, PA band from 1984. As Fantod explains, there’s a heavy 4AD influence here, from the more esoteric post-punk era of the label (My Captains, Mass, etc.) as well as some similarities to Sad Lovers and Giants, European Toys, and the above mentioned I’m So Hollow.
Quite a UK-centric sound for this ambitious Philadelphia band, who have six more releases following this one. I’ve only heard 1985’s The Child In Me 12” and the follow up LP, both of which move more towards an indie/jangle sound. Great if you like that sort of thing as well (I certainly do), but this LP is the real deal, and both “Easter Night” and “Evening Opus” have quickly become favorites. You can get the 12” on Vinyl Obscurity, and you can catch the Darkest Dreams LP on A Viable Commercial!
You can read a bit more about the band here.
Stranger to Stranger- Casting Shadows LP
1. Easter Night
2. Crowded Room
3. In Your Eyes
4. Voices Calling
5. Flux
6. Cry To Dream
7. Evening Opus (Pts. 1, 2 & 3)
8. Lonely Winter
9. Wind On Skin
June 7, 2013 at 8:07 am
the most of us, are in debt with you….
many thanks for all!!
best wish!
David
June 8, 2013 at 1:55 am
Thanks, I remember this band. Great to finally have a digital copy, lost the record years ago.
Just so you know, the link for the 12″ on Vinyl Obscurity is dead.
June 8, 2013 at 8:30 am
thanks a lot
a new discovery for me
June 10, 2013 at 3:02 pm
Hello!
Indeed, this is a beautiful album. Too bad they aren’t as famous as they should be. That was a nicely unexpected post.
June 10, 2013 at 10:45 pm
why the minimal synt mystery corner sends me to a wham! video? if it’s some sense of humor,welcome very much…
October 24, 2013 at 8:24 pm
😉
June 13, 2013 at 2:58 pm
Thank you very much. First heard this in rotation on college radio KUNI in Iowa when it came out in 1984. Somehow I never forgot “Crowded Room”… That sound haunted me for years. Thanks again…
June 22, 2013 at 2:23 am
I can’t thank you enough! I bought the vinyl version back in 1984 at “The Listening Booth” record store in the Quakerbridge Mall, in NJ. I still have my vinyl copy, and I’m thrilled I can play this on my iPod now! Woo-hoo!
February 26, 2014 at 6:46 pm
[…] of my 7” collection and delicately cleaning up the sound (you can find more evidence of this here), so to tide you over until I finish putting the finishing touches on a new VA compilation, I […]
June 30, 2014 at 8:47 pm
[…] the pre-requisite Joy Division influence present in the vocals (fans of De Press, The Opposition, Stranger to Stranger, and Dropopop should enjoy this one especially) but the music jumps from moody post-punk and flirts […]
June 17, 2019 at 10:23 pm
I have two of their other albums if you want them. “Don’t Stop” and “The Child in Me”
August 9, 2019 at 6:12 am
This album is great. Any other releases would be great.
May 4, 2023 at 6:19 pm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ0oQgrcXes&list=RDMM&index=3&pp=8AUB
Link to “Opportunity” from Darkest Dreams