Review Summary: People come and go, and we all move so slow
Strawberry Runners’ mastermind Emi Night has been through
a lot in recent years, as documented by the project’s Bandcamp page - a breakup with a longtime partner, a period of homelessness, and a sibling’s suicide attempt. Having weathered these experiences, Strawberry Runners’ debut full-length feels “heavy”, while retaining the compelling sense of humanity which made previous shorter releases (like 2017’s EP
In the Garden, In the Night) shine. An amalgam of melancholy folk (“Angel in the Glass”), abrasive rockers (“Slip Through”), and warm indie pop (“Look LIke This”), the record is bound together by a rich sense of atmosphere. There are some gripes - the snippet of laughter and conversation which is the fifteen second interlude “ha ha” probably isn’t strictly necessary, “Alison” is a captivating Big Thief-ian piece at heart led astray by the idiosyncrasies of its presentation, and the repetition of the titular phrase in closer “Circle Circle” is rather excessive - but overall, it’s clear that
Strawberry Runners showcases Emi Night’s best set of songs yet (for some particular highlights among the tracks not previously mentioned, don’t miss the poignance “Buddy” packs into less than two minutes or the satisfying blend of crunching guitar and winsome vocals which comprises “Bed and Blanket”). More than anything, though, the
vibe is what you'll remember - with its combination of emotional openness, laid-back melodies, and hints of twang, this album feels like bittersweet reminisces with a friend on the porch, sweat on your skin from the humid air, as darkness falls and the fireflies dance. In short, it’s a Midwestern summer in sonic form. Flaws and all, you couldn't ask for better listening material while enjoying these last days of summer before autumn comes creeping in.
