The Strands
“Flying” from their “Entanglement” album
Giving Pop & Jazz a new home in LA is how they describe this album… Pretty accurate, as they achieve a really cool blend of jazz feel and pop hooks within their music. They cite Amy Winehouse but also Carole King, Velvet Unsdeground, The Clash and Chicago as influences, and that wide array of bands and artists means they have a rich musical background to draw from and craft what they call “Artisanal” music.
This song, “Flying” is representative of their sound, which is laid-back, jazzy and cool, but also has that immediacy of Pop that makes you sing along after the first listen. Its deceptive simplicity is what makes the song’s charm for me. Starting with a steady beat that will keep going all along, and that hook played by piano/guitar counterpoints, you cannot help but bob your head. Amanda Campbell singing is oh so engaging, and the background vocals are present to support her in a very effective way.
It flows so well, and you can imagine yourself on an airplane, flying to an exotic destination, listening to that song on headphones. Why not add that to your playlist next time you take a vacation?
Verdict: 5/5 beards
Get your copy of their album on CD-Baby now: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/thestrands1