Next song up is Strange News From Another Star, which is another dark track that is quite indicative of the style we’ve seen so far on S/T. The song takes its title from a series of short stories written by German author Hermann Hesse in the early part of the 20th century. The lyrics are quite abstract, with the narrator describing how they want to see ‘crazies on the street’ amongst other strange phrases. Some have speculated that it is another song that touches upon Damon’s addiction to heroin, and the second verse does seem to suggest that, particularly with lines such as “give me all your stuff until I can’t get up”.
Musically the song is primarily comprised of Damon and some acoustic guitar along with a somewhat eerie sounding synthesiser. The song does however become more chaotic towards the end, with Dave delivering some heavy drumming that is somewhat buried in the mix.
Lyrical highlight: “Watch the whole world freeze, counting tin cans in our sleep”
Musical highlight: Synthesiser, acoustic guitar
Best performer: Damon
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I love this song, and I love Herman Hesse, although I wasn't aware of the connection. Another very underrated song from this album.
Here's a very beautiful live acoustic performance (as long as you ignore the people talking) by Damon and Graham: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHd61hp23tM
A great author, I recently finished reading Peter camemzind and can highly recommend
Long time favorite for me. Hesse's work is truly magnificent as well.
Since I'm from a third world country, I've always hated the fact that nobody knows the song when I played guitar in the street.
That probably works well for you, since passers-by will think it's your song ;)
Would feel kinda shittier to take credit for Hesse's, Damon's and Graham's work, but I feel you tho!
I just love how mellow, and down to earth this track gets. I really switches things up in the album, and makes for a much more diverse sound for the album as a whole. I heard that this song was also inspired by Damon and the band's time in Iceland.
Top 3 Blur for me, this is Damon totally emulating David Bowie. Two masters of melancholic ballads. Albarn would later develop this style on Gorillaz songs like Slowcountry and his solo album, but its never better than here, specially the keyboards sound so spacey, melancholic and reminds me of beaches and the ocean too
Absolutely amazing song, a real highlight of their catalogue. I love that little bass synth that sounds squelchy during the second chorus
Yes!! Love this track. I really like the synths - sound almost like a very echoey accordion (maybe like played through a filter or something). I think that part really makes the song. It creates that eerie and melancholic feel like fans here have described.
I wish the end with the drums ends with a crescendo and definite end instead of fading out