Kane Strang

Kane Strang’s first album, Blue Cheese, picks up on the rough disaffection of his earlier demo collection, A Pebble And A Paper Crane, which he recorded in a WWII bomb shelter in Germany. Now back in his hometown of Dunedin, New Zealand, Kane spent two curious months alone, housesitting for his parents. Relocated, yet still isolated, Kane composed all of Blue Cheese over those quiet days. Lead-off track “The Web” channels pummeling bass lines punctuated by a twinkling synth that calls upon microscopic pop principalities of restlessness (“Yeah, I met someone else/ Without leaving my little house/ No, I haven’t held her yet/ I met her on the internet”). Its abrupt ending parallels Strang’s own disconnect. “She’s Appealing” weaves day-glo guitar motifs into distant, detached ‘80s garage pop vocals. “Never Kissed A Blonde” is driven by a slapping delay on both vocals and guitar. Kane never doesn’t surprise with his path towards a melody, nor does he miss a hit-on-the-head-obvious-in-retrospect memorable line.