Moral panic is a peculiar business. Kernels of vague information blossoming into fully fledged thickets of horror, shrieking tabloids inciting the masses to arms, pearls clutched at, innocents persecuted, etc, etc.
This kind of thing is often grimly compelling of course, and Brooklyn's purveyors of angular pop, Strange Flesh, were sufficiently compelled by the modern legend of The Croydon Cat Killer that it became the focus of their brilliant new single, 'Croydon Fox'.
Written from a satirically anthropomorphic perspective of the urban fox(es) that the 'killer' turned out to be, 'Croydon Fox' explores an after dark face-off between two of the world's best-loved animals, viewed through the warped lens of a very human media frenzy.
Musically, 'Fox' evokes the skulkings of a nighttime prowler - an ominous wobble bass and sinister synths are underpinned by a skittering trap-tinged beat as vocalist Varrick Zed purrs her malicious intent. Dark, fractured pop this may be, but it's still catchy as hell, so prepare for its chorus chant of 'my favorite time of day is night' to be stuck in your head for the foreseeable future.
Backed with a deliciously nebulous dub version of the title track, and a slinking, synth-driven companion piece, 'Croydon's Revenge', this threesome will ensure that your Halloween fires are kept raging right through Christmas.

Strange Flesh is the new project of Varrick and Ed Zed, originally conceived during the bleak summer of 2020, and made, well, flesh in the here and now. Formerly known as The Casual Sexists, V & E are renowned for conjuring stylish, off-kilter pop music out of ostensibly unmusical objects and the mayhem of the modern world. Strange Flesh is a continuation of their voyage, which finds the duo questing into ever more exotic sonic territory.

'Croydon Fox' will be released 2nd December on House of Zed.

Croydon Dub

Croydon's Revenge

'I don’t have a proper job, I'm a metamodern skank'
Varrick Zed's insouciant introduction sets the tone for 'Very', a taut new assault on the dancefloor from NYC avant-pop miscreants, Strange Flesh.

Taking aim at societal expectations as to how a life ‘ought’ to be lived, ‘Very’ is an anthem for those on their own deliciously precarious path, the soundtrack to beloved but ill-paying employment, affordable decadence, no children, and a healthy disregard for the future. 

Underpinned by a pulsating bassline and minimal electro-funk beat, the track’s wickedly catchy sonic palate is peppered with deconstructed synth hooks and subtle ambient flourishes, which, together with Varrick’s ice cool sprechgesang vocals, turn ‘Very’ into a full-blown pop leviathan. 

While we're feeling nebulous, 'Very' is backed by the darker, galloping strains of 'Sugoku', an accelerated club belter that complements its predecessor very well, before the EP's title track is hacked to pieces and rehewn by Digital Equipment Co. into a dementedly hiccupping new beast.

Last of all, legendary New Zealand DJ Stinky Jim elongates 'Very' into a jawdropping eight minute dub extravaganza, closing out this sizzling EP with aplomb.

For the as-yet-uninitiated, Strange Flesh comprises native New Yorker Varrick Zed, and London expatriate Ed Zed. The duo is based in Brooklyn, where they craft left field pop music out of whatever they find lying around in their apartment and their ravaged minds.

Very (Stinky Jim's Scented Showcase Very-Fied Version)

Very (Digital Equipment Co. Instruction Set Architecture Edit)

Sugoku

Very

Single / Dub Return

Destructive Relaxation

Single / No Return

Strange Flesh's cover of 'Burning Bridges' by legendary Dadaist avant-punks, The Cravats.

Burning Bridges

Strung out on an unhealthy diet of hyperpop, angular punk, dub and various forms of bass music, transatlantic duo Strange Flesh craft fractured pop music out of drums, grubby synths, animal calls and the myriad horrors of human life.

Strange Flesh

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