(Indie, Dream Pop, Alternative, Shoegaze) The Stratford 4 - Keep Your Crazy Head On Straight - 2015, MP3, 320 kbps

The Stratford 4: Let The Revolution Begin San Francisco, 1999: Chris Streng (vocals, guitar) is at a loose end. Two members of his last band have just formed Black Rebel Motorcycle Club while Chris is stuck searching for his perfect combination. Meanwhile two Seattle refugees, Jake Hosek (guitars), Andrea Caturegli (drums), have found their dream bass player, Sheetal Singh (bass), just back from living in London, and together they are looking for a vocalist. Mutual friends B.R.M.C. make the introductions and The Stratford 4 become a reality. From The Underground Up The Stratford 4 build their own noise-pop sound from wavering layers of guitar (ala My Bloody Valentine) on a foundation of Yo La Tengo-esque psychedelia. Imagine the spacious interiors of Sigur Ros splashed with dark strokes of the Velvet Underground. Or not, it's up to you. The House That Noise Built Part of a close-knit group of San Francisco bands, S4 are not afraid to get their hands dirty. Sheetal is a co-founder of the Popular Noise Foundation, a community organization for musicians. Another cool thing about the band is that Sheetal and Andrea are members of a rare and elusive species, the All-female Rhythm Section, a welcome sight in this often testosterone dominated modern-rock ecosystem. The Results After releasing two records on Jetset, 2002's 'The Revolt Against Tired Noises' and 2003's 'Love and Distortion' (both records reached the top 10 on college radio charts), The Stratford 4 return with their latest effort 'Keep Your Crazy Head On Straight'. Produced by Ric Ocasek of The Cars and recorded in New York City's famed Electric Lady Studios (the house that Jimi built), KYCHOS is filled with pop hooks, but it doesn't sacrifice any of the driving guitar Stratford 4 sound we've come to expect.