Straylings – Call Back Your Name (2024)
Straylings’ third studio album Call Back Your Name emerges as a nuanced exploration of personal transformation, weaving together psychedelic folk textures with deeply introspective storytelling. The Bahraini/British duo of Dana Zeera and Oliver Drake have crafted an album that is at once intimate and expansive, drawing from a rich tapestry of musical influences that span continents and genres.
The album’s sonic landscape is a mesmerising blend of reverb-soaked guitars, shimmering acoustics, and ethereal synths. Zeera’s vocals – reminiscent of Stevie Nicks – float with an enigmatic grace, perfectly complemented by Drake’s intricate guitar work that pays homage to the folk-rock traditions of Fairport Convention and the dreamy soundscapes of Mazzy Star.
Opening track ‘Silent Moon’ stands as the album’s cornerstone, a testament to the duo’s innovative approach to songwriting. Born from a serendipitous merger of Zeera’s folk musings and Drake’s hypnotic instrumentals, the track epitomises the album’s thematic core of rediscovery and reorientation. The unique recording process – with drums tracked in a basement studio surrounded by banana groves in Madeira – adds an extra layer of surreal authenticity to the music.
The album’s rich sonic tapestry draws from an expansive musical lineage that traverses continents and generations. Tracks like ‘American Kid’ resonate with the sun-drenched California rock of Fleetwood Mac, while ‘How Long’ channels the desert-rock eloquence of the Eagles. But Straylings transcend mere homage, weaving influences from Tim Buckley’s experimental folk, Kate Bush’s ethereal storytelling, and Pink Floyd’s psychedelic landscapes into a deeply personal narrative.
Yet, underneath these familiar reference points lies a deeply personal narrative. The duo explores themes of isolation, integrity, and finding one’s path in disorienting times, drawing from their eclectic musical background – from Bahraini radio stations playing Creedence Clearwater Revival to the soulful sounds of Um Kalthoum.
What sets Call Back Your Name apart is its intentional slowness – a deliberate pushback against a world obsessed with speed and instant gratification. The album was created entirely on the duo’s own terms, a reflection of their commitment to artistic integrity and personal growth.
For fans of introspective psych-folk that bridges cultural boundaries and challenges musical conventions, Call Back Your Name is a revelatory listening experience. Straylings have created more than an album – they’ve crafted a meditative journey of self-discovery.
Find out more about Straylings on their official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
