Portland, OR indie-rock outfit Strange Pilgrim have shared “One Day,” the third single from their eagerly anticipated sophomore LP, Too Bright Planet, slated for a September 26 release via Royal Oakie Records. Following their critically lauded self-titled debut (2022) and the more recent Embers EP, this new offering hints at a refined, expanded soundscape for multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Josh Barnhart‘s vision.
“One Day” immediately distinguishes itself, bolstered by the addition of seasoned players Pat Spurgeon (Rogue Wave, Dandy Warhols) and Elliott Kay to the lineup. The track drifts in on a subtly disquieting, almost programmed beat and a spiralling guitar line—a foundation that, as Barnhart notes, “plays with the idea of affirmation and futility.” The introspection that defined their early work remains, but here it’s laced with a wry resignation, a whispered incantation of progress that never quite materialises.
Too Bright Planet, produced by Barnhart and mixed by Cory Gray (Califone), promises a broader palette than its predecessor. Recorded live at Bocce Recording, the album draws influences from the expansive jam-rock of The Grateful Dead to the ambient explorations of Brian Eno, all filtered through a lens that evokes the hushed, moody vibes of early ’70s Fleetwood Mac or Luna’s Penthouse. While their debut wrestled with alienation, Too Bright Planet leans into acceptance, rebirth, and forward momentum, a shift inspired by the likes of Robert Hass and Akira Kurosawa. “One Day” is a compelling, if bittersweet, preview of this new, quietly explorative chapter.
Stream One Day: https://idm.fm/one-day
Order Too Bright Planet via Bandcamp: https://strangepilgrim.bandcamp.com/album/too-bright-planet