Everyone Else Is a Stranger

Everyone Else Is a Stranger is a sort of back-to-basics album for Norwegian producer Lindstrom, consisting of four space disco tracks aimed directly at the dancefloor. Though the cuts average around ten minutes each, they dont waste time with excessively long intros or pointlessly meandering sections. Opener "Syreen" jumps right into the groove, with uplifting synth sequences and smooth, longing guitar melodies. The mood elevates further with choral vocals, trancey arpeggios stretching up higher and higher, and traces of stringed instruments, which Lindstrom reportedly bought just for the recording of the album and sold after it was finished. "Nightswim" is appropriately starry, with cosmic strings swooping around glimmering piano melodies. Its delightful music to dance to, but its also worth playing loud and concentrating on the finely detailed production and arrangement. There are so many layers and subtle changes in the mix, and it all has an impeccable (and natural) sense of pacing to it, making a particularly grand impact when the beat flows back in after a lush breakdown. "The Rind" has a slight bit of a breakbeat-like punch to its drums, and the sharp synths busily pulsate and glide, with eerie reverse effects added as a nice touch. It all sounds as if Lindstrom turned a dial marked "Space Disco" up as far as it could go without reaching the threshold of kitsch or parody. The title track is much calmer, with a Mellotron-like beginning and drum machines that slowly fade in, and while its more subdued than the other tracks, it does head in the direction of psychedelic euphoria when the swirling guitars surface and build to a triumphant climax. Everyone Else Is a Stranger is easily one of Lindstroms most gleeful records, and one of the easiest to recommend. ~ Paul Simpson