‘Strange Sun’ is almost objectively original; in terms of lyrics, atmosphere, theme and the use of instruments, this is a mature and out of the ordinary effort.
A dreamy, creeping and sprawling piece, this is a bold single – weighing in at almost seven minutes, two minutes longer than any other song on Future Echoes, last year’s album on which it appears – this track wanders lovingly through decades of influence; packaging together something simultaneously light and dark, jovial and serious.
This song is a haunting teaser that makes evident Pictish Trail’s capacity to make subversive, well-considered and profoundly subjective music; concerned not with being liked but with being representative of something personal to the creator.
This is the basis for art and – love it or hate it or something in-between it – should be respected in the music industry.
Words: Paul Aitken
