The Upper Strata—they’re straight-up blasting off into space. With their new single “Juniper and Ivy,” the Swiss/US synth-dream wizards play a whole freakin’ sci-fi noir saga that’s as gritty as it is celestial. This song is the opening salvo of their Celestial Vagabonds universe, a concept album-graphic novel hybrid that squeezes space rock, synth-pop, and West African guitar grooves into a kaleidoscopic rebellion. Strap in—this ride’s got lasers, low-end thunder, and a hell of a lot of badass attitude.
With Regula, whose fingers dance between moody synth, punchy bass, and vocals like starlight, and Johnny (vocals and strings), The Upper Strata is perfect as should be. “Juniper and Ivy” kicks off with West African-inspired guitar licks that twist suddenly into a space battle. The track would make you pump your fist for the freedom fighters. It’s like their comic book jumped off the page and started a revolution in your ears.
Recorded in Manchester, it’s oozing with that movie-star cool, you know? Regula’s basslines on cuts like Smuggler’s Den and Blood and Thunder (hinted at here) add a dirty, pulsing spine, while the team’s vocals float like a ghost through their noir-tinged cosmos. Every synth swell, every guitar ripple, every beat feels like a panel from their comic, whether it’s the neon-esque confusion of a smuggler’s den or the quiet defiance of the Celestial Vagabonds, two musicians clawing at freedom.
The Upper Strata’s genius lies in their refusal to sit still. With seven LPs and 500+ gigs under their belts, they’ve come a long way from messing around with dream-pop. “Juniper and Ivy” is your gateway drug to their June 2025 album, and it’s gonna be this wild ride of synths and scorching guitars, where each track unfolds another chapter of their space-freak story.
Pre-order the chaos. Dive into the novel. Let the Vagabonds hijack your stereo. Resistance never sounded this good.