#academystrangers

[fuzzypopmusic]

Academy Strangers play the first Fuzzy Pop night on the 7th of May, right after they have been to show off their skills at Sound City in Liverpool this weekend. Looking forward to having them and the other bands playing - Burn The Maps and Flintlock 'n' Roll.

[rdumike]

[Review] Academy Strangers - Single

iTunes £2.37 https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/academy-strangers-single/id606956056

Edinburgh 2013

www.facebook.com/AcademyStrangers

www.twitter.com/A_strangers

Academy Strangers came to my attention this morning, as many things do these days, via Twitter.  A couple of quick DMs later and I’m listening to their first single.  Isn’t the future super?

Anyway, tunes.

From the first lyrics “Open up the door...” the single does just that, slowly easing you into what Academy Strangers are all about.  First track “The Beast Inside” is an atmospheric wee builder; designed, it would seem, to knock the unsuspecting listener over at about 2 minutes in.   There’s an equally excellent video to this track too if you really want to see what their wee faces look like.

With the door now thoroughly opened, the highlight for me is track 2, “Free Again”.  It’s reminiscent of Without You I’m Nothing era Placebo, with a bit of The Smashing Pumpkins and maybe even some Pearl Jam influence in there.  In fact while I’m at it, throw in a little Twin Atlantic too.  It’s full of energy while also showing a level of maturity.  Listening to this tune and flicking through the live pics on their Facebook page gives me a bit of an idea of what this lot are capable of on stage.

“Sure, sure” wraps up this thing up nicely, swinging as it does between pristine pop verses and anthemic choruses.  (Chori?  No, choruses. I was right the first time.)  It doesn’t go quite the way you expect it to, or perhaps the way I’d hoped it would, but maybe that’s just me.  Despite not being the standout track it’s still a strong tune with a big belting ending.

This nicely produced single’s a cracker and shows real improvement from their first EP.  It’s well worth a go, and I look forward to hearing more from these guys in the future.

See them live;

Wed 17th April // Napier Student Union (Acoustic)

Fri 19th April // The Electric Circus w/ Mechanical Smile & Culann

Fri 26th April // Barrowlands 2, Glasgow

Fri 3rd May // 20 Rocks Dundee

Sun 26th May // Whipman Festival, West Linton

Mike - Northern Lights, RDU 98.5fm, Christchurch, New Zealand

www.facebook.com/northernlightsnz

www.twitter.com/rdumike

www.rdu.org.nz