release date: Jun. 28, 1990
format: vinyl (WX350) / cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,06]
producer: Roddy Frame & Eric Calvi
label: WEA Records - nationality: Scotland, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Stray" (4 / 5) - 2. "The Crying Scene" - 3. "Get Outta London" - 4. "Over My Head" (5 / 5) - 5. "Good Morning Britain" (feat. Mick Jones) - 6. "How It Is" - 8. "Notting Hill Blues" (4 / 5) - 9. "Song for a Friend" (live)
4th studio album release by Aztec Camera is a return to more folk-oriented sources. The 1987 album Love was a wonderful collection of blue-eyed pop soul and jangle pop songs, and an album I would always consider for my desert island collection but it wasn't well-received by the English press who saw it as too naive and simply "out of time". I guess, Frame spent some time figuring out what to do next 'cause what he really does so well is to write simple love songs. As on Love Roddy Frame works alone here on his Aztec Camera project with hand-picked studio musicians to fill out the impression of a band release.
Stray is a return to simple singer / songwriter material with a bold political and social criticism on life in Britain. The album also features former Clash guitarist and composer Mick Jones on the hit single "Good Morning Britain", which I just find somewhat unoriginal and a bit tedious, although the critics kinda loved it. Best songs, however, are the title track and the the wonderful jazz-fuelled "Over My Head", which really showcases Frame's potential as a class singer / songwriter. Despite being ignored by critics and music buyers, the album is more than fine - in fact, I find it my favourite by Roddy Frame, and being forced to choose between the obvious pop release Love and this one, Stray would be my pick.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]
