Cash & Skye – Just A Stranger (Little Record Co.) (13th Floor Album Review)
Cash & Skye make a compelling debut with Just a Stranger, an indie pop rock album that blends its influences into a cohesive, flowing collection of songs. The duo, composed of Henri Cash (of Starcrawler) and Sophia Skye, forge a distinct identity that balances raw, textured instrumentation with Skye’s airy yet emotionally grounded vocals.
Produced by Cash and Pierre de Reeder, former bassist of Rilo Kiley and father of Skye, the album bears the mark of both seasoned experience and fresh perspective. The band includes band mates of Cash from Starcrawler; his brother Bill Cash adding guitar dynamics, including pedal steel, and Tim Franco providing consistent bass guitar lines, and impactful piano. Across thirteen tracks, Just a Stranger traverses themes of longing, resilience, nostalgia, and youthful rebellion, whilst blending musical styles to create songs that complement each other and create a seamless listening experience.
Lyrically, the album explores themes of displacement, identity, and personal introspection, using evocative imagery and emotional touchstones. The title track, Stranger, opens the album with its soft harmonies and easy-listening quality, providing a tender reflection on feeling like an outsider: “I have said some words before, I’ve tried real hard just to be ignored.” This melancholic undercurrent carries through the record, surfacing again in tracks like Some People Don’t Change, where swelling instrumentals reinforce the song’s message of endurance and resilience.
Elsewhere, the album shifts toward regional nostalgia and love for home, as heard in Pasadena Girls, an ode to the charms and flaws of Pasadena, California. The refrain, “Ain’t got them Pasadena girls anywhere else in the world,” captures attachment to the people, and this warmth is balanced by wry observation about the place: “Only happens ‘cuz the smog is shitty, but it’s for me and you.” This playfulness contrasts with heavier, introspective moments on the album, showing the band’s range in both mood and lyrical depth.
In My Sleep stands out with its crunchy guitar intro, leading into a steady beat where vocals remain at the forefront before the instrumentation swells back in force. Similarly, One More Turn leans into anthemic indie rock, driven by guitar-heavy textures and a steady rhythmic pulse, while Plastic Stars adopts a more atmospheric, dream-pop feel, with vocals floating over a chiming, reverberating soundscape.
Other tracks showcase a stripped-back, reflective approach, such as Closed, with echoing guitars and ambient sounds, and You Should Be, which builds from a slow, chunky strummed guitar to a dramatic climax before fading out. Meanwhile, Waiting On the Day injects retro rock & roll energy, standing out as an upbeat and fast-paced number.
Just a Stranger captures the spirit of modern indie pop rock, that fans of Jenny Lewis, First Aid Kit, and Bright Eyes will find much to enjoy. The album blends introspective storytelling, textured instrumentation, and emotionally resonant melodies that feel raw and refined, personal and universal. Whether reflecting on personal insecurities, longing for home, or revelling in the act of storytelling, Just a Stranger is an impressive foundation, and it will be exciting to see how Cash & Skye evolve from this promising debut.
John Bradbury
Cash & Skye‘s debut album, Just A Stranger, is due for release on February 21st.
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