It is nice to come across a band without any expectation or knowledge of what you are about to hear. I approached Stratus this way and was very pleasantly surprised:
Initial thoughts of this mainly instrumental album drift in the direction of 70’s Tangerine Dream, and Vangelis mixed with 80’s synth, As the Crow flies is an extremely fine album. An album that I have continually gone back to over the past couple of weeks and now with the thought that, why are this band not more well known?
We are not in Can territory or anywhere close to Eno ambient effects, but there is a tremendous band sound here, a jazz vibe and even a nod to Sigur ros come later into the album as well.
Play this record LOUD oh and a great soundtrack to the Olympics!
10/11
Pete
