Stranger Again
Sleepy Cat, 2021
8/10
The North Carolina duo of Steph Stewart and Mario Arnez, as Blue Cactus they craft an atypical form of Americana that’s groove, twang and glam friendly, as plenty of esteemed help is embraced on this retro and very cozy listen.
“Blue As The Day” starts the listen emotive and eloquent, where Whit Wright’s glowing pedal steel and Gabe Anderson’s strategic percussion complements the country influenced landscape, while “Stranger Again” finds itself in a very pretty, elegant display of cosmic friendly song craft that showcases Stewart’s alluring pipes.
Near the middle, “Come Clean” benefits from cautious harmonies in a stirring, poetic climate, while the vocally radiant “Rodeo Queen” emits spirited guitar lines amid a dreamy delivery. “I Can’t Touch You”, one of the album highlights, is then soaked in hazy beauty that’s sublime, inviting and even mysterious.
“Radioman” and “Space Country” exit the listen, where the former is a lushly layered and meticulous in a vintage sort of way, and the latter brings some ambience and exploratory ideas that finishes primarily instrumental and even a bit psychedelic.
A very well thought out sophomore album, Blue Cactus touch on some of the best ideas of the ‘70s here, where pop and classic country meet at a very absorbing intersection as songs about many different types of relationships resonate with much timelessness.
Travels well with: Skylar Gudasz- Cinema; Mary Bragg- Violets Are Camouflage