Guest music that tells of fear, but knows no fear of contact with house or rap.
Bartnes Strange, born in 1989, grew up with scary stories and horror flashing. As a queer and black person, he had to find out early in Oklahoma that the real world can also be a gruesome place. He devotes himself to horror. Musically, he playfully implemented this existential topic in a playful way: it starts with casual guitar sounds (“Too Much”). A little later, Strange not only plays indie rock, but also puts his soulful voice (“17”) about radio and hip-hop elements, some reminds of the Unknown Mortal Orchestra.
There are also beautiful country vibes in the melancholic “Baltimore”, while the dark “Lovers” is garnished with house sounds. Jack Antonoff (Bleachers) co-produced the multifaceted plate and probably shaped the sometimes classic guitar arrangements (“Sober”). Sure, Strange wants to exhibit eclecticism. He is a fan of Burial and loves The National, on the band’s label he published his debut EP in 2020. He used to play in a hardcore band and heard at the drive-in, he didn’t know any fear of contact with other genres.
This is exactly what makes horror exciting, even if you sometimes miss the stylistic coherence. Then there would still be his texts: if Bartees Strange sings about drinking problems and needs in love relationships or wonders where he could live with a black family without fear, this is very touching.
You can find out which albums were published in February 2025 via our monthly publication list.