Gazing Upward

Oddly enough, the Stratford 4's brand of pop remains an anomaly in San Francisco's music scene. While there are plenty of jangly retro acts, the Stratfords' Anglophile leanings aren't all that common.

"For a while, everyone was into twee music or everyone was into post-rock or everyone was into noise," says Singh. "We've seen all these trends go by and we've played with all those bands. There's never been a scene that relates to us specifically, and I don't think we'll ever be trendy in that way. We're outsiders who aren't unwelcome at the party, but maybe weren't on the A-list."

With a growing fan-base and an album on an elite indie label, it's unlikely the Stratford 4 will remain outside for long. As for figuring out what to call the band's music -- nugaze, perhaps? -- neither the Stratfords nor Jetset seems overly concerned.

"Bands are good because they have good songs and because they have enthusiasm for what they're doing," says Jetset publicist Robert Vickers via phone, "not because they've discovered some new subgenre of music that nobody's played before."

There is one image, however, the musicians are eager to shed: that they are all druggies. Far from embracing the "taking drugs to make music to take drugs to" ethos of seminal psych-pop act Spacemen 3, the Stratfords maintain they lead "notoriously boring and straight" lives.

"There are drug bands, and there are good things that drugs do," says Streng. "There are also problems that drugs bring up that make it onto the tape. We've avoided that."

"I was thinking recently," he adds, "that I would prefer that we were considered a dreamy band rather than a drug band."

That distinction is rendered moot by the Stratfords' preferred volume level: maximum. By wielding its stupefying wall of noise, the Stratford 4 hopes to bring people in -- or, failing that, drive them out. "I'd like that our music totally moves you, and you either really like it or you really hate it," says Hosek. "Anything in between is kind of depressing."

As a vocalist Streng also strives for strong reactions. At the band's last show, at Cafe Du Nord in December, a group of drunk out-of-towners wandered in off the street and started heckling the band. Streng wasn't bothered; in fact, he encouraged them.

"Heckling is OK," he explains, "because it breaks down the barrier between a band and an audience."

In the club's dark cellar, the boozers smashed that barrier.

"You suck!" screamed a drunk. "Play Buddy Holly!"

Streng didn't miss his cue. Plucking the first notes to one of the Stratfords' signature songs, he replied, "Yes indeed, this one's by Buddy Holly."