A.L. STRANGE – PICTURE PERFECT – SINGLE REVIEW

A.L. STRANGE is the collective name of the alt dark indie, hazy psychedelic brainchild of A.L. STRANGE (guitar/vocals harmonica) Dan Lyons (drums/vocals) Al White (Saxophone) Henry Gabbot (guitar/vocals) and Sahib Dhinsa (bass/vocals)

Formed by a cohort of musical stalwarts with members previously having performed on stage holding their ground with the likes of The Libertines and Primal Scream as well as having worked on previous productions with the likes of Fat White Family and the Brain Jones Town Massacre, you already know that you’re going to be in for a bit of a treat!

To prove the point further their debut release ‘Picture Perfect’ received its first ever radio airplay this week by none other than legendary new music mogul. Steve Lamacq on his BBC Radio 6 show where he credited the band with support and praise.

Following this amazing start, A.L. Strange are set to continue on this upwards trajectory with further BBC Radio plays already confirmed in the pipeline……

The debut single ‘Picture Perfect’ itself is a layered tapestry of sound, mixing hypnotic, hazy beats with bluesy, powerful, impactful lyricism and some seriously sultry saxophone solos in the hooks. It’s as catchy as they come. Emotions are laid bare whilst at the same time there’s this lingering notion of wanting to peek behind the curtains to see what lies within. It’s deliciously bold without being overpowering, it’s decidedly fragile whilst also hitting the listener right smack in the face.

It’s a track that will make you want to sit up, listen and take notice with bated breath waiting for the band’s next enticing move…….

The accompanying music video perfectly befits the track with a surreal Mad Hatters Tea Party being played out in a swirling psychedelic haze while front man A.L. Strange himself seems to be taking in all the madness going on around him with a detached resignation to the inevitable.

Watch the official music video here now.

The band have said of their new project:-

“Picture dingy hotel rooms and baron suburban landscapes, holograms of misled youth and a healthy hatred of the patriarchy. “

The track was recorded at Big Jelly Studios in Ramsgate and mixed at The Albion Rooms in Margate over ten days in 2025. It was produced by Dan Lyons (Fat White Family/ La Femme/ Brian Jonestown Massacre/ Misty Miller) and Mastered by Dennis Blackman. The track is being released on Shaker Records / AWAL Records and is available on all DSP now. ‘Picture Perfect’ is the first single to be released from A.L STRANGE’s debut EP of the same name which the band describe as a “whistle stop tour of active heartbreak” and which is due for release later this year.