No strangers to being on the receiving end of appraisal from EQ whilst, concerning their former electronic pop guises of the Detachments and Strangers. We welcome in Born Stranger the indie electronic-pop duo comprised of David Maddox-Jones and Raife Hacking, who have undergone a bit of an epiphany one might say in working towards their debut album.
A longer player effort I’ve much wanted to hear from these two, from way back when I thought they were ready to give a sense of Hurts pop noir to the gloom ridden downbeat trend which began to implant itself everywhere a couple of years ago.
Strangers went to ground. Dance-crossovers happened and Born Stranger now have sprung up to remind us of all that is indie-edged and darkwave involved doesn’t necessarily need to be cast over in bleakly sombre tones.
Landing their debut single “Fire and the Flame”, Born Stranger strike out with more than a touch of retro observed nostalgia on their side. Elementally picking tropes from the pop realm of 80’s procured sound forms influenced to a largest extent of Depeche Mode, Japan & Tears For Fears.
The erupting chorus of rousing electronics, ensures that “Fire and the Flame” is one sure enough to see electro-heads like myself bobbing our freaky nuts off too.
What is more, if like “Fire and the Flame” a fair few of the album tracks are mixed by Yoad Nevo (sia, Pet Shop Boys, Goldfrapp) then we’ve got a real electronic pop offering in prospect to look out for in the coming months.