It’s hard to believe that 1998 was 25 years ago… And it’s even harder to believe that 25 years after the fact, San Jose’s Duster has found viral success on TikTok, of all places. Not to say the band doesn’t deserve it – their mercurial blend of “home recording accidents” and “blown-out 2am studio experiments” clearly resulted in something special, Stratosphere, an iconic and well-deserved milestone in pre Y2K slow core, indie rock, and beyond. The 17-song collection is full of Casiotone meanderings; jangly guitars dripping with emotions; and microphone-in-a-room drum tones that sound as iconic today, potentially even more so, as they did back then.
If you’ve been on social media any time over the last few years, you’re probably familiar with the now iconic “Inside Out.” Having racked up an impressive 140 million+ streams on Spotify alone (and 7.2 billion (!) times on TikTok), there’s no doubt Duster is fully capable of striking a nerve decades after the fact. Like the similarly archetypal “Never Meant” by fellow 90s stalwarts American Football, “Inside Out” has a unique juxtaposition of warmth and anguish. With it’s gently strummed guitar backbone and straight-to-tape drum sounds, it’s one of those lightning in a bottle compositions that can’t possibly be replicated. Its time capsule feel is now etched into history, and falling in the track 11 slot, it’s the perfect anchor across the otherwise sprawling Stratosphere.
For every gauzy, experimental track like album opener “Moon Age” or the titular track “Stratosphere,” there are songs like “Heading for the Door,” with it’s spindly guitar riffs and gentle vocal lullabies. The guitar work across Stratosphere is of particular note – rather than lace their songs with explosive fretwork, these songs trod, crawl, and claw their way forth with a warped and warbled sensibility. Another album highlight is the crushing lo-fi soother “Constellations.” With a grand total of 26 words, Duster says more with less. Like “Inside Out” before it, “Constellations” makes use of a gently strummed guitar and far-away vocals, wrapping your head in a sonic, cosmic pillow fort.
If you’re more of a fan of midwestern emo tones or driven vibes, there are options for you here as well. It’s easy to get lost in the fuzzed-out guitar leads of “Earth Moon Transit” or “Echo, Bravo,” whereas songs like “Reed To Hillsborough” with it’s more upbeat strumming patterns bring to mind (and ultimately have potentially even eclipsed) contemporaries like Cursive, Built to Spill, and/or Rainer Maria.
Fittingly, Stratosphere will literally be sent to space on September 29, 2023 (and yes, you read that correctly). It feels like a fitting tribute to the album’s namesake, and the symbolic launch and descent (captured in delicious 4k) can be something for fans of Duster to love for years to come.
Stratosphere is available on black, Inside Out (Numero Group Shop edition) and Constellations Splatter vinyl. The CD and CASS editions also include an extra track, the aforementioned “Echo, Bravo.” To preorder Stratosphere, follow the link here. Find all the different ways to support Duster via their Linktree. And check out the cool little preview via the YouTube embed below.