Step into the world of Juniper and Ivy, freedom fighters locked in a hidden battle against an oppressive empire. The Upper Strata, a Swiss-based duo, blends mesmerizing synth pop with shoegaze textures, crafting a sonic journey through rebellion, hope, and resilience.

This track is the first single from our upcoming concept album and graphic novel, a sci-fi fantasy saga where music and storytelling collide.

Juniper and Ivy

Synth-pop duo The Upper Strata continues their foray into sci-fi, noir, and fantasy storytelling with their latest single, Tuzat. A sweeping, cinematic track, Tuzat blends space rock, hypnotic synth textures - evoking a sense of myth, mystery, and rebellion.

Inspired by the legend of the Tuzat, mystical warriors destined to defend the Azu people from the relentless advance of the machine-like Bora, the song serves as both a standalone sonic journey and a vital piece of the duo’s upcoming concept album and graphic novel, Celestial Vagabonds.

«Clang, clatter—the Bora march! Will the Tuzat return in time to save the sacred forest and the beautiful folk that call it home?»

Echoing the narrative-driven music of classic concept albums, Tuzat immerses listeners in a retro-futuristic saga of resistance, prophecy, and fate. The track’s pulsing rhythms and ethereal synth layers create an otherworldly atmosphere, transporting audiences into the heart of a distant, battle-scarred galaxy.

Tuzat

The Upper Strata dives into the shadowy world of future noir with their latest single, Hector. Inspired by the classic hardboiled detectives of film noir, Hector blends moody synth textures, brooding basslines, and hypnotic beats, evoking the neon-lit alleyways and smokey speakeasies of a distant future.

A key piece of the Celestial Vagabonds universe, Hector follows a world-weary detective drawn into a labyrinth of crime, deception, and colliding powerful forces after a chance encounter with a mysterious woman. As he navigates a city where grifters, drifters, and forgotten places hold dangerous secrets, the song’s pulsing rhythms and cinematic soundscapes mirror his descent into the unknown.

«Hector knows this side of town too well. Old enemies lurk in the shadows, waiting. What has he stumbled into this time?»

Echoing influences from Fritz Lang, Blade Runner, and classic noir scores, Hector transports listeners to a world of intrigue and danger, fusing synth-pop, jazz-tinged grooves, and cyberpunk atmospheres into an immersive sonic experience.

Hector

Step right up and enter the dark, twisted world of Blood and Thunder! This track echoes the smoky cabarets of The Threepenny Opera and channels the storytelling of Tom Waits and Nick Cave. With an intentional circus-like waltz, it sways between menace and melody, weaving a tale of power, deception, and spectacle.

As part of the Celestial Vagabonds narrative, this song is voiced by the enigmatic Circus Master, whose booming presence commands the stage. The calliope wheezes, the drums roll, and under the big top, the show begins - where the line between performer and captive is razor-thin.

Step into the ring and let the spectacle consume you.

Blood and Thunder

Drifting through the cosmic expanse, Celestial pulses with shimmering synth lines and a nebula-drenched space rock atmosphere. An homage to the sci-fi theme music of the ‘70s and ‘80s - think Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy meets Buck Rogers - this track captures the awe and mystery of interstellar adventure.

As part of the Celestial Vagabonds narrative, this is the moment our heroes pause, overwhelmed by the sheer vastness of their journey. Stars flicker, planets glow in the distance, and the weight of the unknown settles in. The universe hums around them, and for a fleeting moment, they are simply passengers of the infinite.

Let the sounds carry you beyond the stars.

Celestial

Music can be an escape from whatever is troubling you, it transcends the human experience. Gliding on waves of pulsing synths, effected guitars, and hypnotic drum sequences, Escape is a sonic flight from captivity - a moment where music becomes more than sound; it becomes freedom itself. This track pays tribute to the power of melody, the way it lifts us beyond our struggles, dissolving the chains of reality, if only for a moment.

Within the Celestial Vagabonds narrative, our heroes - musicians trapped by a cruel Circus Master - find solace in their songs. Their performances are their only escape, the one place where they are truly free. Each note is a rebellion, each beat a step closer to the stars.

Close your eyes, let go, and escape.

Escape

Drifting through layers of spacey guitar, shimmering synths, and sequenced beats, Hour of Souls unfolds like a scene in a play. With a heavy dose of atmospheric effects, this track is less about escape and more about reflection - a quiet moment within the Celestial Vagabonds journey.

At the heart of the song is a sense of strange camaraderie. Inspired by a dream, it captures a scene in the belly of the ship, where the performers - though captives - share an unspoken bond. There’s an awareness of imprisonment, but also an odd comfort in their togetherness. The music doesn’t seek resolution, only to paint the scene and pull the listener inside.

Step into the dream, settle in, and let the story unfold.

Hour of Souls

Built on a foundation of deep, pulsing bass with an FMeron effect, the tone of an 8-string guitar, and relentless electronic beats, Mantra is the rhythmic heart of the Celestial Vagabonds saga. The track moves like a well-worn machine, driven by heavy drum sequences and looping patterns, evoking the grind of industry and the ceaseless motion of life on the road.

It begins with a mantra: give them blood and thunder - the creed of the circus performers. Roaming the stars, from forgotten outposts to underground hideouts, they bring their ragged spectacle to whoever will watch. This song introduces key themes of the circus, setting the stage for the strange, traveling show at the center of the story.

The machine turns. The show goes on.

Mantra

A slinky groove winds its way through spacey guitars, setting a late-night atmosphere that feels both hypnotic and uneasy. Precarious captures the delicate balance the circus performers live with - trapped between the demands of the show and the will of their cruel master.

Night after night, the monsters come and monsters go. But in this tale, the real monsters are the two human performers and not the alien audience.

The spotlight flickers, the act continues, but for how long?

Precarious

A hazy blend of trip-hop grooves, warm organ tones, and pulsing sequenced beats, Smuggler’s Den drifts through an atmospheric soundscape, evoking the lamp-lit corridors of a distant, floating galactic market. The bass hums low, the guitar weaves in and out like whispers in the crowd, and the rhythm moves with an unhurried, shadowy pulse.

This is a place where deals are made in hushed tones, where wanderers and outlaws pass through unseen. The music doesn’t rush - it lingers, heavy with the weight of secrets and the glow of flickering lights in the deep void of space.

Step into the market, but watch your back.

Smuggler's Den

Indie electonic duo blending folktronic, lounge and chillout.
The Upper Strata is Johnny (vocals, guitar, bass) and Reg (bass, synth/sequencers, accordion, vocals).

The Upper Strata

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