Kane Strang - Blue Cheese (2016)

2016 release from the New Zealand-based psych pop artist. 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. Back in his hometown of Dunedin, New Zealand, Strang spent two curious months alone, housesitting for his parents. Re-nested, yet still isolated, Strang 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. Its abrupt ending parallels Strangs 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. Strang's path toward a melody is always surprising, and he never misses a hit-on-the-head-obvious-in-retrospect memorable line.