Comprised of Justin Sandercoe (guitar), Tim Harries (bass), Ellem (vocals), and Owen Thomas (production), the members of We Came As Strangers began collaborating together as an experimental pop, side project from the members various professional endeavors. As Sandercoe explained in press notes the members of the band initially went into the writing and recording sessions for the band’s debut effort as virtual strangers – with the only connection being that Sandercoe had worked with each individual member at some point. And with the release of the band’s first two efforts, Recipe For Adventure (2013) and Shattered Matter (2014) the quartet received attention for a sound that draws from Portishead, Massive Attack, Fleetwood Mac, London Grammar, Philip Glass, Regina Spektor, and others, and for a writing and recording process that focuses on spontaneity and improvisation to craft a sound that defies genre boundaries and easy categorization.
Raising money through Kickstarter and exceeding their fundraising goal, the quartet went into the studio for an intensive two week period of writing and recording – and the end result was the band’s forthcoming third full-length effort Eyedom which is slated for an August 31 release. The album’s latest single, album title track “Eyedom” is a hauntingly gorgeous, atmospheric song consisting of swirling electronics, shimmering guitar chords, twinkling keyboard and effortlessly beautiful vocals. Sonically, the song sound as though it’s subtly channelling the cinematic sound of Goldfrapp — but much more sensual and pop-leaning.
