Work Wife - “Strangers”

Brooklyn-based Work Wife have graced the indie universe with a new, chilled-out single: “Strangers.”

This hot slice of melodious pie opens with some shimmering electric guitar strewn across an ethereal landscape of distant synth. Moments later, the rhythm section enters the sonic space, with the rich sounds of carefully calibrated bass and drums, determined to take you on a smooth and euphonious journey. Straight out of the gate, it is aurally clear that “Strangers” has been crafted by hardworking musicians.

The sounds of a banjo emerge as this folksy-rocking, firecracker-of-a-tune welcomes the opulent and endearing vocal performance of frontwoman Meredith Lampe. Her voice immediately conjures the vibes of both Julien Baker and Phoebe Bridgers, particularly when the additional layers emerge on the chorus. And if you’ve been keeping up with our blog, you’ll already know this is a tactic that we simply cannot resist.

Highlights within “Strangers” include the vibrant and ghostly sounds of some lap steel, as well as the gritty ear candy distributed by the lead guitar. And in order to leave a lasting impression on the listener, Work Wife kick it up a notch in the final throws, imbuing the track with a cocktail of over-driven vocals, distorted guitars, and some hard-hitting drums. There are many things you could stick in your ears this weekend, but “Strangers” is likely the only one that your doctor would recommend.

“Strangers” comes from Work Wife’s forthcoming EP, Waste Management, which shall be released via Born Losers Records.

-HD