STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND is Paul Kopf and Alec Palao: two long-time friends and collaborators caught stranded at the end of rock’n’roll time, yet resolute in their belief that the format isn’t quite dead yet. As Palao likes to say of the kind of intelligent, melodic rock’n’roll he and Kopf favour, it may go out of fashion, but it will never go out of style.
And now, ‘Broken Tambourine’ ushers in a new phase, one that sees Strangers wear their pop predilections firmly and unabashedly upon the collective sleeve. Suitably, the track is the first fruit from recent sessions produced by the legendary Shel Talmy (Kinks, Who, Bowie), whose experienced ear recognized the possibilities of the songs the act brought him.
Recording live in studio in the time-honoured manner, Alec and Paul were ably assisted by their friends Jonathan Lea (Jigsaw Seen) and Clem Burke (Blondie). The orchestrated feel of ‘Tambourine’ sets the tone for their forthcoming album, a suite of songs of which both remain most proud. Stay tuned . . .
