Strange Advance
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1982 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Founder | Drew Arnott, Darryl Kromm, Paul Iverson |
| Headquarters | Vancouver , Canada |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Strange Advance is a Canadian band specializing in new wave music, originating in 1982 from Vancouver, British Columbia. They earned Juno Award nominations for Most Promising Group of the Year in 1983 and Group of the Year in 1985. Their initial trio of albums—Worlds Away (1982), 2WO (1985), and The Distance Between (1988)—each attained gold certification in Canada.
1982–1995: Origins and Rise in Canada
The band was initially formed by Drew Arnott (keyboards, percussion, vocals), Darryl Kromm (lead vocals, guitars), and Paul Iverson (bass) in 1980 under the name Metropolis, which was later changed due to a conflict with another group using the same name.
Their first album, Worlds Away, produced by Bruce Fairbairn, included the title track that gained moderate radio exposure across North America in 1983. Unlike Fairbairn’s typical collaborations with hard rock bands such as Loverboy and Prism, Strange Advance blended progressive rock elements with new wave, heavily incorporating synthesizers.
Following Iverson’s exit after their debut release, Arnott took on production duties for the 1985 album 2WO. This album also achieved gold status and featured their breakthrough Canadian hit, "We Run". To support live performances during this period, Arnott and Kromm recruited session musicians Ric deGroot, Ian Cameron, Joey Alvero, and David Quinton for tours in Eastern Canada.
The 1988 release The Distance Between showcased contributions from notable session musicians like Randy Bachman and Allan Holdsworth, producing the top 20 single "Love Becomes Electric". After this album, the band largely ceased activity as Arnott opted not to follow newer musical trends such as grunge.
In 1995, the compilation Worlds Away & Back was issued, combining earlier tracks with outtakes, remixes, demos, plus three new songs recorded between 1991 and 1995.
2016–2018: Remastered Editions and Crowdfunding Efforts
On June 24, 2016, a remastered version of The Distance Between was released on CD including two additional tracks: an extended club remix of "Love Becomes Electric" and the previously unreleased "Flow My Tears".
December 2018 saw the first-ever CD remaster of Worlds Away, featuring two bonus tracks—the UK Dance Mix of "Love Games" taken from vinyl and the b-side "Lost in Your Eyes". This edition was exclusively available in the Philippines through the boutique label Sound Philosophy and appears to have been sourced from original master tapes.
On September 17, 2018, Drew Arnott initiated a crowdfunding campaign to fund a Strange Advance reunion tour slated for 2019. The campaign's success allowed the band—without Kromm—to organize the Radical Orbits Tour. However, multiple postponements occurred due to cancellations and delays including those related to the Covid-19 pandemic.
2022–present: Reunion Activities and Touring
Strange Advance reemerged in April 2022 with an updated lineup featuring Drew Arnott (lead vocals, keyboards), Sean Dillion (lead vocals, guitar), Ian Cameron (guitar, violin, backing vocals), Rob Bailey (keyboards), Ross Friesen (drums, backing vocals), and Alex Boynton (bass). Their comeback performance took place at Vancouver’s Hollywood Theatre. The Radical Orbits Tour included shows across Ontario.
In 2023, the band embarked on the Worlds Away 40th anniversary tour with stops in Victoria, BC; several locations throughout Ontario; and New Westminster, BC. The tour continues into 2024 with Peter Trotzuk replacing Boynton on bass and backing vocals. The current leg began in Victoria during May and will feature a headlining appearance at The Sound of Music Festival—the largest free outdoor concert in Canada—held in Burlington, Ontario in June. Additional dates are planned.
Studio albums
- Worlds Away (1982)
- 2WO (1985)
- The Distance Between (1988)
- 4 (2021)
Compilation albums
- Over 60 Minutes with... Strange Advance (1987)
- Worlds Away & Back (1995)
Music video collections
- Strange Advance (1985)
Singles
| Title | Release | Highest chart rankings | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Pop | CAN AC | |||
| "She Controls Me" | 1982 | — | — | Worlds Away |
| "Kiss in the Dark" | 1983 | — | — | |
| "Love Games" | — | — | ||
| "Worlds Away" | 46 | 29 | ||
| "We Run" | 1985 | 28 | — | 2WO |
| "Running Away" | — | — | ||
| "The Second That I Saw You" | — | 20 | ||
| "Love Becomes Electric" | 1988 | 20 | — | The Distance Between |
| "Till the Stars Fall" | — | — | ||
| "Hold You" | — | — | ||