The Strainge Case of Steve, by Rascal Reporters

Uh Oh (Lait Suspendu Fermenté)

The Strainge Case of Steve

by Rascal Reporters

supported by

jeremiahmurphy115 Scratches that itch!!! Lots of awesomeness

paliojen_black When I listen to this music, parts of my brain that I've never used before light up like a Christmas tree. Simply some of the best, most complex musicianship you'll ever hear. These guys are the real deal. Favorite track: I Cries Crimes.

Eric Kearns Bravo. Thickness to the gills. Unknowable is also darn mazin’ Favorite track: The Odor at Tavistock.

more...

	/

Streaming + Download

Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

This album includes a digital booklet with credits, art and more.

Purchasable with gift card

$10 USD or more
Compact Disc (CD) + digital album + streaming
Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album
There were only 100 of this CD release made world-wide!!

Includes unlimited streaming of The Strainge Case of Steve via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

Sold Out

1.	Fat Delivered 04:59	info
2.	A Race Against Time 02:39	info
3.	Papa Norco 04:58	info
4.	Beetle Borscht 05:15	info
5.	Over and Out 03:05	info
6.	The Odor at Tavistock 04:33	info
7.	How Archontic the Ankle Biters 08:22	info
8.	Lady and the Old Codger 02:26	info
9.	Unknowable 05:14 video	info
10.	Love Is A Dead Smelly Fish 04:34	info
11.	I Cries Crimes 03:56	info
12.	Uh Oh (Lait Suspendu Fermenté) 03:39 video	info
13.	Groom of the Stool 03:32	info
14.	Lurking in Shadow Fury 03:41	info
15.	Guns for Clones 07:43	info
16.	People Who Eat People 08:53	info

about

The Strainge Case of Steve is the latest offering from the avant-garde progressive rock duo Rascal Reporters, currently comprised of Steve Kretzmer and James Strain. The album features 16 tracks of eclectic, inventive and adventurous music that showcases the Reporters’ compositional dexterity and idiosyncratic creativity.

The album heralds a new chapter of the Rascal Reporters' long and prolific career, which spans over four decades and (now) eight studio albums. The band was founded in 1974 by high-school friends Steve Gore and Steve Kretzmer in Oak Park, Michigan. Inspired by progressive rock giants like Frank Zappa, Gentle Giant, Henry Cow and King Crimson - along with the then-burgeoning Rock-In-Opposition & Canterbury scenes in prog - they recorded hundreds of songs in their basement studio throughout the 70s and 80s using an array of instruments, tape recorders and synthesizers.

The Rascal Reporters developed a unique style that combined complex compositions, quirky melodies, odd time signatures, humorous lyrics and experimental sounds. They gained a cult following among deep-diving crate-digging progressive rock fans around the world for their originality and eccentricity.

The Strainge Case of Steve is their eighth studio album and heralds the full return of group founder Steve Kretzmer, who had taken a step back from composition after 1995’s Purple Entrapment. It is also their first to feature James Strain as a full-time member. Strain joined the band in 2019 and completed the group’s first new release in some years: Redux Vol. 1, followed by Vol. 2 in 2021, a semi-archival series which featured up-cycled versions of lost compositions with new arrangements and overdubs from Strain. The album was well-received by critics and fans alike for its fresh spin on the classic Reporters DNA. Strain shares writing, performing and production duties with Kretzmer on this new album.

The album was recorded between 2017 and 2023 at Kretzmer & Strain's home studios in Michigan, USA & Carlow, Ireland respectively. It features guest appearances from returning favourites and members of classic avant prog groups such as long time collaborator Dave Newhouse (The Muffins, Manna/Mirage) and Guy Segers (Univers Zero), along with members of some of today’s most exciting new groups such as Jessica Martin Maresco (Pili Coit, Le Grand Sbam) and Dario D'Allessando (Homunculus Res).

credits

released July 28, 2023

‘Fat Delivered’ (Steve Kretzmer)
Steve Kretzmer: organ, electric piano
James Strain: bass, drums, lead guitar, melodica
Dave Newhouse: horns, woodwinds
Dario D’Allessandro: guitar

‘A Race Against Time’ (James Strain)
James Strain: bass, drums, guitars, piano, organ

‘Papa Norco’ (Steve Kretzmer / James Strain)
Steve Kretzmer: organ, electric piano, clavinet, piano, synths
James Strain: bass, drums, guitar, fake horns, synths
Dario D’Allessandro: additional synths

‘Beetle Borscht’ (James Strain)
James Strain: bass, drums, guitars, piano, organs, synths, electric piano

‘Over and Out’ (Steve Kretzmer)
Steve Kretzmer: piano, keyboards, synths
James Strain: fretless bass, drums

‘The Odor at Tavistock’ (James Strain)
James Strain: bass, drums, piano, organ, synths, sitar, programming

‘How Archontic the Ankle Biters’ (Steve Kretzmer / James Strain)
Steve Kretzmer: choir, synths, keyboards, bass synth, piano, programming, arpeggiators
James Strain: beats, fretless bass, drums, programming, guitars, synths, bass synth, samples, sound design

‘Lady and the Old Codger’ (Steve Kretzmer / Penelope Lovelace / James Strain)
Steve Kretzmer: concept
Penelope Lovelace: vocals, words
James Strain: bass, drums, organ, guitars, instrumental composition

‘Unknowable’ (Steve Kretzmer)
Steve Kretzmer: synthesizers
James Strain: bass, drums, guitars
Dave Newhouse: horns, woodwinds
Dario D’Allessandro: additional synths

‘Love is a Dead Smelly Fish’ (James Strain)
James Strain: fretless bass, drums, guitars, piano, organs, synthesizers
Dave Newhouse: saxophone

‘I Cries Crimes’ (Steve Kretzmer)
Steve Kretzmer: organ
Guy Segers: bass
Dave Newhouse: horns, woodwinds
Dario D’Allessandro: guitars, synths
Kimara Sajn: additional bass
James Strain: drums

‘Uh Oh (Lait Suspendu Fermenté)’ (James Strain / Jessica Martin Maresco)
James Strain: fretless bass, drums, synths, piano, electric piano, samples, bass synth
Jessica Martin Maresco: vocals, lyrics

‘Groom of the Stool’ (Steve Kretzmer)
Steve Kretzmer: keyboards, piano, synths, synth bass, sound fx
James Strain: fretless bass, drums, sound collage

‘Lurking in Shadow Fury’ (James Strain)
James Strain: bass, drums, guitars, organs, synths, keyboards, samples

‘Guns for Clones’ (James Strain)
James Strain: bass, drums, guitars, piano, keyboards, organ, synths, sitar, gamelan (gangsa), melodica, programming, 12-string acoustic guitar, fake horns

‘People Who Eat People’ (Steve Kretzmer)
Steve Kretzmer: piano, organs, keyboards, synths
James Strain: bass, drums, acoustic guitar, programming, samples

Produced by Rascal Reporters
Mixed, mastered & engineered by James Strain

All parts were recorded by the band members and guests in their own home studios
Additional guest parts composed or arranged by their respective performers

Song names by Steve Kretzmer, with the exception of ‘Lait Suspendu Fermenté’ by Jessica Martin Maresco

Album cover artwork by Dario D’Allessandro
Typography by James Strain

Booklet layout and design by James Strain
Booklet artwork created with the assistance of OpenAI DALL-E

license

about

Cuneiform Records Washington, D.C.

Cuneiform Records is a record label releasing adventurous, boundary-bursting music by artists from around the world. They have always championed an eclectic mixture of musical styles and artists and have consistently danced at the dangerous intersection where genres meet. In doing so, they have become one of the most prominent labels of New Music.

Founded in 1984.
Based in Washington D.C. ... more

Recommendations

contact / help

Contact Cuneiform Records

Streaming and
Download help

Shipping and returns

Redeem code

Report this album or account

Cuneiform Records recommends:

The Gift of Purpose [Hopper Family Benefit Album]
by Bone (Nick Didkovsky / Hugh Hopper / John Roulat)

The BENEFIT ALBUM for Hugh Hopper's family is now on Bandcamp! Cuneiform Records
go to album

If you like The Strainge Case of Steve, you may also like:

Zopp
by Zopp

supported by 38 fans who also own “The Strainge Case of Steve”

The new live EP by Ryan W. Stevenson's project reminded me, that this debut album must have been gone down the wishlist... If instrumental Canterbury stuff is your thing, this should be a no-brainer. Firmly rooted in the past (late 60s, 70s), nevertheless with a fresh sound. Guests incude The Tangent's Andy Tillison and Soft Machine's Theo Travis. Carsten Pieper
go to album
Dominion
by Zopp

supported by 37 fans who also own “The Strainge Case of Steve”

got recc'd this on youtube and loved it- reminds me a lot of late 60's and early 70's records i used to hear playing out of my parents' stereo on sweltering summer days. OPAL
go to album
Abracadabra In Osaka (Elton Dean, Allan Holdsworth, Hugh Hopper, John Marshall)
by Soft Works

supported by 35 fans who also own “The Strainge Case of Steve”

This is an amazing recording both musically and technically capturing some amazing musicians playing together to leave us something of wonder daveappleton
go to album
Furvent
by Le Grand Sbam

Progressive music ensemble The Grand Sbam's bombastic compositions defy tempo, genre, and description. Bandcamp New & Notable Dec 17, 2020
go to album
Sen Morimoto
by Sen Morimoto

The experimental artists contemplates dueling realities on his sophomore album. Bandcamp Album of the Day Oct 20, 2020
go to album