INTIMATE STRANGER
After four years of touring Latin America, the UK, Europe and the USA, Intimate Stranger – an international band formed in 2006 by Chilean guitarist Lautaro Stranger (Cucsifae, Don Fango, Disturbio Menor) and English/Croatian singer/bassist Tessie Stranger, has finally had the breakthrough they deserve with the release of their second album “Under” in June 2010. As of November 2010 the band is now based in Austin, Texas, adding new drummer Victor Ziolkowski and with a widespread 2011 US tour.
The title song is getting extensive radio play across the globe, (including Austin’s 101 X, BBC Radio 6, and top South American stations Horizonte, Zero and Rock and Pop), the video for “Under” is now on MTV and the press reviews for the album and in particular the second single from the album, Nighttime are sensational.
Since its formation in 2006, the band has lived in London, Santiago and more recently in Austin, TX playing at venues as diverse as The Rock Garden, and The Dublin Castle in London, The Roxy in Buenos Aires, Club Blondie and Teatro Caupolican in Santiago, to the Parish in Austin and the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, NY. Intimate Stranger has performed with: Cheap Trick, Surfer Blood, High on Fire, Anita Tijoux, Carl Stone, The Raincoats, Hello Cuca, Sky Larkin, Black Tape For a Blue Girl, Crystal Castles and more.
Adding keyboardist Ismael Palma in 2008, the new set up with synths and keyboards has further evolved the band’s sound, as is reflected in the their new material, which was described on Tom Robinson’s Introducing BBC 6 Radio as “sounding gritty and dirty and calm and etheral at the same time, with beautiful vocals – a difficult balancing act”.
March 2010 they pre-released their second album Under, to coincide with their SXSW 2010 full-house Showcase at Maggie Mae’s, Waterloo Records Showcase and a tour of the southern states of the USA (supported by strong TV, radio and press including live performances and interviews on Fox, KEYE TV and ME TV).
With a growing fan base in the USA and headliner status in Chile, the band is currently touring the US and garnering media coverage on Spin Earth, Spinner, BeaconPass, Rolling Stone, Austin 360, AntiGravity, Village Voice and much more.
The Austin Chronicle recently highlighted them as one of Austin’s best new acts and among the top ten to watch out for in 2011, “The Anglo-Chilean quartet just moved to town – signed to Austin’s Fringecore Records – and made quite the first impression. In obvious radio singles “Nighttime” and “Under,” the international fourpiece mixed the glossy energy of New Wave with a modern, alt-rock edge, anchored by Croatian singer/bassist Tessie S-Woodgate. They won’t be strangers for long.” READ MORE…
Austin Music and Entertainment recommended the band in its interview with Tessie Stranger, “Check out Intimate Stranger; they’re both Austin’s newest band and one of its most worldly. This city is more eclectic with Tessie, Lau, Ismael and Victor making music in it, so let’s welcome them with open arms and make sure they want to stay. READ MORE…
After their January 2011 show at the Knitting Factory, New York, Spinner’s Annie Reuter, wrote “Frontwoman Tessie Stranger has been named one of the “Leading Ladies of Rock” by Rolling Stone Chile and last Friday she demonstrated just why. With powerful stage presence, her vocals immediately grab the listener. Her singing combined with atmospheric guitar effects, soaring synth melodies and solid drum rhythm had concertgoers energized and dancing along.” READ MORE…
Other critics have picked up on the band’s powerful stage presence, with David Ponce, one of Chile’s top music critics writing, “One of the reasons why its so special to see Intimate Stranger live, is because they go so much beyond playing the album, they recreate the album each time, with every show being a completely unique and new experience.”
Extravaganza, Chile recently wrote; “The band’s sound is warm and sensual, violent and sweet, gritty and sensitive. All at the same time. Live, this quartet is a killer unit that overwhelms the audience with waves of noise and electricity, and has become by far one of the best shows in the capital. Their performance is flawless.”
All this has followed on from the band being selected for a major interview by Rolling Stone Chile for the “Leading Ladies of Rock ‘ special, with a half-page photo of singer Tessie, on the inside front cover.
TRACKS
From album ‘Under’ (2010)
Moments
Nighttime
Beastie Queen
Under
Gone & Buried
Held
From album “Life Jacket” (2007):
5 more minutes
For annie
VIDEOS
Under
Nighttime
Moments
BAND MEMBERS
Tessie S-Woodgate –Vocals & bass guitar
Lautaro Vera – Guitar
Victor Ziolkowski- Drums
Ismael Palma – Keyboards
DISCOGRAPHY
Under (2010)
1. Moments
2. Nighttime
3. Under
4. Held
5. Beastie Queen
6. All Things Pretty
7. Note to Self
8. Shiny Tears
9. Little Steps
10. Gone and buried
Life Jacket (2007)
1. Back in the box
2. 5 more minutes
3 .The chase
4 . Life Jacket
5. Above
6 . I only have eyes for
7 . In the black
8 . Eva
9 . Prospero
10 . Dead dog
PRESS
Now in national distribution in the USA and Chile and available on all the major music download websites from CDBaby to Amazon, the album Under is receiving rave reviews. Here are a few other examples:
The Girls Are On 6 Music (BBC Radio), UK
INTRODUCING | INTIMATE STRANGER
October 22, 2010,
By Richard Ruston
http://thegirlsare.wordpress.com/2010/10/22/introducing-intimate-stranger/ – more-4387
“Tessie’s vocals stand out throughout, varying from a haunting dispassion (in the black) to an earnest cry (Held). To be honest I’ve scarely heard a filthier guitar noise than on ‘Beastie Queen.’ Honestly, it makes the rotting abscess in my frontal cortex look un-pornographically normal by comparison. If that’s not a recommendation then not even God knows what is.”
Anti-Gravity Magazine New Orleans, USA.
Amigos Chilenos: Intimate Stranger returns – Interview and review
by Dan Fox
December 2010
http://antigravitymagazine.com/?p=1811
It turns out that Intimate Stranger also happens to be really fucking good! As one lady said as she exited Peaches records (somehow the band had scored an in-store there), “They sound like a bunch of baby Cures.” Well hell, okay! It’s true: their sound is so simple and driving, like some of the best ‘80s new wave/alternative pop– minus the cheesy reverb, posturing and bad hairdos. All that’s left is simple, catchy rhythms,squeaky clean guitar and keyboard tones and a female singer
with just enough poison in her throat to lure you to your death, willingly. Ha, not really. Their CD has been in constant rotation ever since that visit and we’re all psyched to see them again.
Fense Post
Intimate Stranger: Under [Album Review]
29 December 2010
http://www.fensepost.com/main/2010/12/29/intimate-stranger-under-album-review/
Under has a bit of spark and flare that pops up consistently throughout the entire play list. The
guitar riffs rip apart your eardrums as lead vocalist Tessie Woodgate serenades you with her made
for indie vocals. Their rhythm sections is enlightening on “Moments”, and just listen to that bass on
the title track “Under”, it’s mind boggling good. But what is most impressive about this album has
to be how consistently over the top all the melodies seem to be. It’s like hearing the oohs and ahhs
pouring out of a trapeze tent at the circus for 45 minutes. It’s bloody entertaining to say the least.
Baby Sue, USA
Intimate Stranger – Under
June 2010
http://www.babysue.com/2010-June-LMNOP-Reviews.html#anchor22873
“The second full-length release from Chile’s Intimate Stranger. Under is an instantly likable collection of danceable modern pop/rock tunes with a difference. This band’s overall sound is something like Bjork mixed with The Pretenders with a light touch of Martha and the Muffins added for good measure (?!). The melodies are contagious…and vocalist Tessie Spoljaric-Woodgate has an incredible voice that just oozes with genuine sincerity. The more we spin this album the better these songs sound. Cool credible modern pop tracks include “Moments,” “Nighttime,” “Held,”"Shiny Tears,” and “Gone and Buried.” Top pick.”
Newstalgia – USA
Nights At The Roundtable – Intimate Stranger
September 03, 2010
By Gordon Skene
http://newstalgia.crooksandliars.com/gordonskene/nights-roundtable-intimate-stranger-20
“When I first heard Intimate Stranger on their first album “Lifejacket”, I was completely knocked out and I remarked how fresh they sounded and thought this band is going to make it. Now with their second album “Under” they are getting great word of mouth going and some very positive press in the process. A lot of very strong material that is well produced with a killer singer, Tessie)… Don’t think twice about catching them if they hit your town.”
Daggerzine – USA
INTIMATE STRANGER- UNDER- FRINGECORE
September 2010
http://www.daggerzine.com/reviews_short.html
“Intimate Stranger, whom I had never heard before, are on the right track. The songs are tense and driving but have a solid melody running through each. Also, Tessie’s vocals have toughness about them but certain vulnerability at the same time. Check out the fantastic “Nighttime” and “Moments.” Well done.”
Big Take Over Magazine, USA
November 2010
“Being fascinated by international music, I was interested to hear this band from Chile who, with their sophomore effort, should easily cross over into domestic acceptance. Under is an album of dreamy indie rock informed by the likes of Stereolab, Kim Deal’s bands and perhaps Joy Division. The music is similar to what Interpol or The Happy Hollows are doing, but all comparisons aside, it’s the finely crafted songs that make Intimate Stranger stand out among their peers.”
Intimate Stranger – Under (Fringecore Records)
October 25th 2010
http://super45.net/discos/intimate-stranger-under-fringecore-records/
“In it’s elegance, Intimate Stranger drinks from the waters of Baudelaire’s dark dandyism, Edgar Allan Poe’s nostaligia, and the perpetual crisis of The Cure’s Disintegration. Under is the best album to come out of Chile this year, both for its composition and sincere passion.”