Max Bien Kahn - “Stranger”
Photo by Noé Pierre
Singer-songwriter Max Bien Kahn from the USA has just released the beautifully reflective indie pop rock track, “Stranger.”
“Stranger” strikes you from the very first beat with its wistful elegance, driven by a bossa nova-esque groove that gives the composition a smooth, laid-back sway. The beat and cadence bring to mind “How Insensitive,” by Oscar Perterson. The rhythm is a pleasing blend of organic and electronic percussive elements, making the vibe modern and richly textured.
Warmth and depth are further enhanced by the reflective padding of a fluid synth organ, while acoustic guitar weaves gently, adding to the irresistibly intimate and absorbing atmosphere. However, it’s the touches of clarinet that, for us, elevate the track majestically. The captivating sounds consolidate the sense of class, expressiveness, timelessness, and cinematic beauty of this track.
Complementing the music, Max Bien Kahn graces us with an introspective, almost conversational, yet strikingly velvety vocal. With well arranged, vintage tinged backing vocals that harmonise tenderly, the performance is compellingly cozy and atmospheric.
Max Bien Kahn explains that “Stranger” is about “Being a wandering soul and finding someone else who’s on the same page as you. You’re like, ‘Oh, we’ve been orbiting around each other and this seems to be working out in this weird way.’ We wanted to create a smooth and kinda sexy vibe for this song, so we used a drum machine, live percussion and organ to build a cozy rhythm and then added synthesizers and clarinets to take it to another planet.”
“Stranger” is the third single taken from the forthcoming album, Flowers, Max Bien Kahn’s forth full length LP and his first in collaboration with Defend Vinyl Records (Liverpool) and Well Kept Secret (New Orleans).
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