"Orange Days" — Stray Fossa
It’s no secret that we love Stray Fossa here at Boxcar Collective, and “Orange Days” merely solidifies our belief that these guys are one of the most intelligent—if not outright best—bands to emerge from the expansive underground dream pop scene. This latest release finds them combining the compositional prowess and sonic uniquity of Television’s “Marquee Moon” with the intense pensivity and expert instrumental layering of Radiohead’s “Karma Police” to arrive at something truly ethereal. In that vein, the soundscape on “Orange Days” is nothing short of impeccable: clean and uncluttered, yet concurrently robust. Atmospheric vocals and acoustic overtones blend seamlessly against their signature deep basslines and refined percussion. Yet, unpack the limber melodies and you’ll find some of the trio’s most poetic lyricism to date, replete with galvanic verses that’ll have you lost in wistful nostalgia. Moreover, Stray Fossa’s exceptional production, characterized by their stalwart DIY approach and unwavering attention to detail, time and again proves that you don’t need a big-name producer or major-label recording studio to achieve a high-fidelity sound. If “Orange Days” is any indication of what’s in store from the group’s debut LP With You For Ever, dropping everywhere on April 9, then it goes without saying that the album is likely to be one of the year’s most captivating listens.