Kane Strang’s sensibilities for songwriting err toward the peculiar, being enhanced rather than restricted by a lo-fi psych-pop sound. Strang’s path toward a melody is always surprising, and he never misses a beat delivering his wryly deadpan lines bemoaning lost love and . “Strang has a gift for pulling diamonds from the rough”, said a recent Pitchfork review, “[his] songs have a way of making modest acts seem heroic.”

Kane Strang’s debut release Blue Cheese (Flying Nun/Ba Da Bing!) grew in reputation long since its conception, written over two curious months of nested isolation in Strang’s hometown of Dunedin. His brand of guitar-pop pays heed to the city’s musical history while seeking its own more contemporary ends – from the pummeling bass and twinkling synth of restless album opener ‘The Web’, to the ‘80s garage pop of ‘She’s Appealing’, and the anthemic ‘Full Moon, Hungry Sun’, Strang’s sound is melodic, direct and precise, calling on Bowie and Ariel Pink as much as his New Zealand labelmates. “He’s carved out his own sound already despite being a very new artist”, said Brooklyn Vegan.

Blue Cheese picks up on the rough disaffection of his earlier demo collection, A Pebble and a Paper Crane, which he recorded in a World War II bomb shelter in Germany. With a devoted and growing fanbase the world over, it is just the beginning of a promising path for Kane Strang. “It’s a good indicator that Strang will be around for a long time”, reads Pop Matters. Picked up for publishing representation by esteemed outfit Secretly Canadian, Strang’s songs are worming their way into ears and hearts around the globe.

Strang’s amassed band of cohorts bring his vision live to the stage to arresting impact, charming crowds with his sideways slant of guitar pop. Having toured New Zealand the band have now settled into full production mode for the next LP, set for release in 2017.