No Strange
Chiedilo A Te Stesso

A psychedelic journey through introspection, poetry, and sound experimentation

With their latest album, No Strange transports us to a hypnotic sound universe, capable of awakening deep images and sensations. The new record presents itself as an immersive experience, a fusion of music and poetry that invites you to slow down time and listen in silence, allowing yourself to be guided on a spiritual and meditative journey. Salvatore "Ursus" D'Urso and the band recreate the intensity of a sound ritual, carrying forward a psychedelic tradition that looks to the past to project itself forward, beyond the conventional boundaries of the genre.

The album is divided into two distinct parts, creating a path from the earthly to the ethereal element. The first section, with a folk rock flavor, intertwines melodies inspired by the Fairport Convention and the Incredible String Band, transporting the listener to pastoral and enchanted atmospheres, then moving to a psychedelic crescendo full of tension and introspection. The second part, more abstract and kraut, ventures into cosmic sound territories, where oriental influences and ritual suggestions blend into a hypnotic and pulsating suite, to be listened to with eyes closed, allowing oneself to be transported beyond reality.

One of the most significant choices of this album is the instrumentation, carefully selected to enhance the organic and timeless sound of the record. The second side, in particular, stands out for the bold improvisation recorded in an ancient monastery (as the Popol Vuh did): a sacred place where the band used a Renaissance pipe organ, an instrument with an enveloping and almost mystical timbre. The echo of the notes in the history-laden environment creates an unparalleled atmosphere, capable of transporting the listener to a suspended space, where the sound seems to float and expand infinitely, evoking dreamlike scenarios and recalling their masterpiece album "L'Universo". This approach, reminiscent of the experiments of Popol Vuh and Klaus Schulze, expresses the desire of No Strange to go beyond pure technology, seeking in matter and history the authentic root of every vibration.

The lyrical component adds a romantic and personal dimension to the album: the lyrics are poems born from a love lived at a distance, an intense and melancholic feeling that unites the modernity of social media with references to the Summer of Love and the psychedelic culture of the '60s. Although inspired by an intimate experience, these verses possess a universal strength, a poetic language capable of adapting to infinite interpretations. Each listener will be able to find in D'Urso's words a trace of themselves, a reflection of emotions suspended between distance and nostalgia, between desire and transcendence.

Despite some difficulties related to health and the years of the pandemic, No Strange maintains an enviable vitality and a growing international following, with devoted fans, especially in Japan. The prospect of a tour in the United States—a long-suspended project now possible again—represents a light for the future of the band, a sign that, despite time and difficulties, their music continues to live and inspire new generations.

In this album, No Strange explores every corner of the human psyche, tracing sound paths that float between reality and dream. It is music for those seeking something deeper, for those who wish to lose themselves and then find themselves again. A sound experience that invites you to let go of all rigidity and immerse yourself in a world of pure emotions. Released by Area Pirata, the album is available on Bandcamp: https://areapiratarec.bandcamp.com/album/chiedilo-a-te-stesso.