STRANGER GIRL - BLACK HOLE RADIO EP
Black Hole Radio is an admissible debut EP effort for the Briton quartet. There’s no danger involved in making this Stranger Girl acquaintance.
With ambitious musical influences of New York indie trailblazers, The Strokes, the atomic and icy Blondie, cali-uncool kids, Weezer and the domesticated rocker, Indoor Pets, Stranger Girl set the bar high for their EP, Black Hole Radio.
The self-proclaimed femme fronted indie-pop explosion interweave luscious strands of punk pop, indie rock and art-pop to create a colourful and textured sonic braid starting from the roots of their first single, the 2017 ‘Thinking Down’, rapunzelling down to this debut EP.
Black Hole Radio leads in with ‘Guilty Games’, a response to a sour relationship peace-offering. ‘Guilty Games’ nods to the initiation of indie rock with dancing riffs, reminiscent of Tegan and Sara, sitting on top of bouncing drums and playful bass lines. With crisp, quirky vocals from Melissa Douglas, ‘Guilty Games’ is a fun introduction to a stacked EP.
As the lead single, ‘Powerhouse’ is appropriately titled for its electrifying riffs and playful, pop-pleated melodies. ‘Powerhouse’ captures the breadth of Stranger Girls influence; a delicate indie folk opening verse that builds into a soft pop rock anthemic chorus, and continuing the trajectory into the soaring instrumental and bridge. The beauty is in the subtle elements of this track; the emphasis on the accent and pronunciation of the line ‘Man I feel alive but what’s it all for’ and the hard pauses in the bridge are the cream on top of this dynamo ditty that offer the Stranger Girl personality.
‘Spitballing’ gained wide attention for the Briton band thanks to earning a spot of BBC Introducing and it’s immediately understandable why. No line and sinker necessary, the opening hook is enough to reel you in and the mammoth chorus is beyond catchy. As with the majority of this album, Stranger Girl strikes a delicate blend of emotional, moody and fresh.
A favourite from the get-go, ‘DAMAGE’ is a nostalgia trip with strong 80’s flashes, a clear indicator of the Blondie worshipping. This femme anthem is straight-up sparkling, sweet goodness thanks to the groovy guitars and slinky bass lines. Lines ‘I wanted to be better by now, I’ve got damage’ and ‘They say you want it, can’t have it’ should be belted at the top of lungs whilst a choir of ‘uh-uh’ is a must!
Finishing on a good note with ‘Bad Side’, Stranger Girl wrap up Black Hole Radio showing off their genre dynamic. ‘Bad Side’ leans into the indie rock doorway with punchy and infectious beats, contagious runs and a grungy cry from Douglas. The use of distorted effects on the vocals in the final chorus is a nice addition.
Black Hole Radio is an admissible debut EP effort for the Briton quartet. There’s no danger involved in making this Stranger Girl acquaintance.
Tammy Walters
★★★☆☆