Philadelphia combo
Strange Ranger
have been on a curious trajectory since their initial formation in the early 2010s. After a couple of bellowing and punk releases under the name
Sioux Falls
, the band switched coasts from Oregon to Pennsylvania and renamed themselves
. Their most recent LP under that name, 2019's
Remembering the Rockets
, was a more melodic and nuanced affair with occasional moments of jangly radiance. On its follow-up, the 2021 mixtape
No Light in Heaven
, they've more or less thrown the past out the window. The ten-track release is a careening sonic pastiche of studio experimentation that is nearly unrecognizable next to any of the group's previous guises. The warped string sample that opens "In Hell" is quickly replaced by a brittle barrage of digital screamo. As they cycle further in,
touch on various subsets of pop, from lo-fi and left-field to synth, dream, and art pop. The tuneful "Pass Me By" and its glowing partner "Needing You" are by far the most accessible and pleasing tracks, though there are plenty of other interesting turns to catch the ear. From the icy post-punk of "Demolished" to the hypnotic drum loops and samples of "Get Right Up to the Mic,"
is a wild and often thrilling ride if one can keep up with it. ~ Timothy Monger