Stratosphere
Genre: Space Rock, Slowcore
Brief description: "Stratosphere", the debut album by Duster, was released in 1998 and quickly became a cornerstone of the slowcore and space rock genres. The San Jose trio—Clay Parton, Canaan Dove Amber, and Jason Albertini—crafted minimalist yet evocative tracks, characterized by reverb-drenched guitars and sparse rhythms. The album’s hypnotic atmosphere invites listeners into a meditative space, with standout tracks like “Earth Moon Transit” and “The Phantom Facing Me” blending existential lyricism with lo-fi warmth. One interesting thing about Stratosphere is that its cult status grew years after its release, thanks to its rediscovery on internet music forums and its influence on modern “bedroom pop” artists.