Bittersweet swerving guitars and sonic verve are two of the defining aspects of War Strings‘ single ‘Tragedy (Lovesong)’. Think New Order, The Cure, Girls and the dense static and fuzz of Swervedriver all combine to form a transatlantic blend of angst and shoegaze. Tough and tender, the song is a gem of the kind that inhabits that sweet spot where melody meets melancholy.

War Strings is the work of LA musician Andrew Stogel who, after suffering a major head injury, began channelling his creativity, from his recovery bed, into a batch of songs that make up his debut LP, due out in 2020. You can also check out his other single, released earlier this year – ‘My Alien Heart’.