In this brief but thoroughy engaging collection, Brann effortlessly captures in song many of life's riddles and contradictions, while never pretending to have all the answers. The songs never languish in cliche or repetition, offering occasional middle eights and glowing instrumental moments. The tone remains warm and inviting, despite the often vexing human problems, which he explores without a hint of sanctimony. The Bravo Suite is an accomplishment in thoughtful music from a reflective soul.

a great start to the new year and a delicious dessert for the meal that was Stranded Alien X.
Sonically colorful and resplendently mixed, this offering is a great echo of X and I hope that Stranded Alien/The NTT have a another productive year.

Stranded Alien at their most picturesque musical storytelling, X is beautifully arranged and mixed. Performances are polished while still retaining a crackling spontaneity Most impressive are the masterful portamento leads, the gorgeous arpeggiators, sonically balanced throughout. This album fully respects the intelligence of its listeners, providing a steady stream of rewarding surprises and wasting no time at just over a half hour of consistently engaging music.

a beautifully balanced trove of musical surprises, Coates' string work, though outstandingly brilliant, never once dampens the vocals and the message of each well-thought out and freshly original song. bonus props to the excellently contributing drummers.

Stranded Alien has renewed my faith in the square wave, and of worlds within and beyond imagining, and of those who have stories there, reminding us that those stories and sounds are vessels that voyage us out and back home again, if only to resupply our wanderlust again.