Track: Naarm/Melbourne trio Summer Flake wonder who the ‘Stranger’ in the mirror is – an easy slow burning track with a delicate pop sensibility.

‘Stranger’ is a slow burning fuse of a song that floats in the ether with a gorgeous slide guitar motif and layers of glorious harmonies. Summer Flake have that laid back low-fi burnish that brings to mind bands like Mazzy Star or Cowboy Junkies – soft velvet vocals and shimmering guitars that create an evocative aura.

Lead singer and guitarist Steph Crase says of the track:

‘Stranger’ takes a metaphorical look in the mirror, pondering who am I/ was I, and tries to make sense of the nonsensical slap in the face of disillusionment, and the alienation of suddenly fitting in somewhere you never saw yourself. There’s something sweet and illogical to something familiar becoming strange.

The fugue of bittersweet melancholy pervades every shimmering note of this achingly beautiful track:

‘Stranger’ is out now through Rice Is Nice Records and available to download through the link above and to download and stream via other sources here.

You can catch Summer Flake live this Saturday, 29 October with Michael Beach, Screensaver and Delivery at the Curtin Hotel, Melbourne. Tickets here.

Summer Flake are Steph Crase (Skid City, Batrider) on vocals and guitar, with Joel Carey (Peak Twins) on drums, and fresh face Perry Mahoney (The Shifters, Civil Union) on bass.

Feature Photograph: Anita Shao