Perfect Stranger is the stage name of Yuli Fershtat, an Israeli musician, producer and DJ, born in 1970 in Moscow, Russia, moving to Israel at the age of 11.
Fershtat has previously released music under guise of 'BLT'. Perfect Stranger is known for his own distinctive sound, characterised by beats and patiently built compositions. His music often defies genres, bridging between progressive trance and techno with a presence of tribal and psychedelic elements. Fershtat released 8 albums, both as 'BLT' and as Perfect Stranger and a long list of 12”, EPs and compilation tracks and compiled few compilations. He is also the owner of the 'Digital Structures' label, which he bought in 2011, and since then has been releasing music by himself and others on it.
Music Musical background and influences Fershtat was surrounded by music since his birth coming from a family of classical pianists, and studied piano from the age of four. He stated as musical influences psychedelic progressive rock, such as King Crimson, Genesis (band), Jethro Tull (band) dipped in some hard rock, such as Led Zeppelin & Deep Purple and some Blues.
He also mentioned Jean Michel Jarre’s Oxygène as critical to his musical development and interest in electronic music. In 1992/93 he visited India and Goa and discovered Electronic Psychedelic music (which he hated till that time and greatly admired since). Another visit to Goa in 1994/95 solidified his interest in Goa Trance and Psychedelic Trance. During these years, Fershtat did not write music but was traveling the world and playing guitar, jamming with other musicians he met on the road.
Earl years - BLT Fershtat started producing after his friends bought him a synthesizer for his 27th birthday. Intuitively he was drawn to produce psychedelic trance since he was very much involved with it at the time and felt close to the rhythms and the atmosphere that it produced, and believing that tribal music such as psychedelic trance is essential for people to unite. He chose the name BLT, which stood for a favourite sandwich of his, to show a lack of ego in music, and that the name itself and what it says are not the important thing, as a kind of antithesis to blasting names, which a lot of groups use, especially in the trance scene. The first BLT album Alchemic Anecdote was released on the Tel Aviv-based label 'Krembo Records' in 1999. His 2nd album, Presence was released on 'HOM-Mega Productions' in the following year. BLT 3rd album, God is Love, featured more down-tempo music, with groovy and more complex rhythms, and was released in 2002, also on 'HOM-Mega Productions'. During that time period Fershtat started working with Danni Makov - former drummer of Nikmat HaTraktor, an Israeli rock band, and one of the most important drummers in Israeli Rock. Together the two put on a live show, where the drummer play part of the set, that now felt more alive. Afterwards the duo extended their work and put out a 4th BLT album, Anything U Want on the label Tokyo Dance in 2004.
Perfect Stranger In 2005 Fershtat decided to bring an end to the BLT project as he no longer citing lack of overseas bookings and his interest in Acupuncture and Chinese medicine as the main reasons. Then Michael Abel-Larsen, one of the owners of Iboga Records, suggested he produce music with slower BPM tempo. He chose the name Perfect Stranger because of a Goa track by that name by Sandman and the Deep Purple song of the same name. The first Perfect Stranger album, Learning = Change was released in the Danish record label Iboga Records, in 2006, and a remixes/collaborations album named Changed was released the year after and featured some of the most important artists in the progressive trance world at the time, including Atmos, Vibrasphere, Ace Ventura and Antix, who remixed some of Perfect Stranger tracks, while he remixed some of theirs. Free Cloud, the third Perfect Stranger's album, and Fershtat`s seventh album altogether, was released late in 2008, and is the album that brought him worldwide attention that crossed genres and scenes and is considered by many to be his best album yet. The inspiration for the album title was based on David Bowie`s song, as Fershtat claimed he " felt like that Wild Eyed Boy from Free Cloud, that David Bowie used to sing about 35 years ago". Free Cloud was characterized by monotone, "technoidic feel", and cross over between genres as Fershtat used the best parts in from the genres that inspired him, mostly techno.
Perfect Stranger’s fourth album, Leap of Faith came out in 2012, also on Iboga Records. The album consists of 3 CDs. The 1st containing new compositions including collaborations with Eat Static, Liquid Soul & Loud; the 2nd consists of new versions and live edits to already released tracks and the 3rd is a recording of a live set at the Indigo Festival, at the Sea of Galilee, Israel, in May 2012. Throughout the years Perfect Stranger has performed live and as a DJ in many leading electronic music festivals worldwide. Thus, Perfect Stranger played Glade Festival UK in 2008 and 2009, Symbiosis Gathering in California at 2009, 2012, 2013. Perfect Stranger played most of Europe`s trance festivals including Boom Festival in Portugal where he played in every edition since 2010, Antaris Project in 2010 and 2012, Ozora Festival in 2012, and many more. Perfect stranger is also very popular in Australia, playing there at the Rainbow Serpent Festival in 2009, 2011 and 2015, as well as in Maitreya Festival in 2010 and 2014, Strawberry Fields Festival 2011 and 2012, Subsonic Festival in 2011 & 2013 and the Eclipse Festival in 2012. He also performed extensively in big festivals in Central and South America including Universo Paralello Festival in Brazil 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, as well as in festivals in South Africa, New Zealand, Canada and many more.
Perfect Stranger has released four full-length albums between 2006 and 2012, and twenty one singles and EPs in the same period. His tracks have been released on a number of record labels including Iboga Records, Flow Records, Tribal Vision, Echoes, Digital Structures and more.
Discography - BLT Albums Alchemic Anecdote (1999), Krembo Records Presence (2000), HOM-Mega Productions God is Love (2002), HOM-Mega Productions Anything U Want [w/ Danni Makov] (2004), Tokyo Dance
Singles & EPs This Is Not / Gingischana / Pulp Fiction (1999), Krembo Records Gravy For The Brain (2000), Balloonia Ltd. God is Love (2002), Iboga Records News (2004), Iboga Records Patterns Of (Remixes) [w/ Danni Makov] (2008), Iboga Records
Appearances Soul Sacrifice (1997), Various - The Forum Lemon (1999), D.J Zoo-B - Psychedelic Krembo Selected Tunes Part 4 Beat Manifesto (2000), Various - UFS (Unidentified Forms Of Sound) Chapter # Two: Psychological Disorder Clear Vision (2000), Various - IsrAliens 2, Bizzaro, Various - Psychedelic Trance 2001 Volume 1 Human Cube Factory (2000), Xerox - In My Brain Clear of Vision (2001), Various - Virtual Trance Vol. 2 White Lotus [feat. Gidi Hovek Olam] (2001), Various - Rolling Synthochords Rat In My Kitchen [w/ Future Prophecy] (B.L.T. Rmx) (2001), Various - Full On Volume 5 Bass Tah (2001), Various - IsrAliens 3: Conflict Cruise Control (2002), Various - Goa Volume 2 Froggy Business (2002), Various - Ectoplasma The Calling (2002), Various - U.F.S 3 - Unidentified Forms Of Sound If You Call It, It Will Come [w/ Digital Manta] (2002), Various - Under Construction 2 - Re:Construct Purple Lotus [feat. Gidi Hovek Olam] (2002), Gidi Hovek Olam - New Frontiers BLT (2002), Various - Generations Screwdriver (2002), Various - Amalgamated Amalgamation The Door Part I [feat. DJ Nadi] (2002) - Various - Travelocity Cruise Control (2002), Sesto Sento - B.P.M - Bionic Pulse Method Tale Of A Snail [w/ Morax] (2003), Various - Frequent Flyers The Rain Song [w/ Danni Makov] (2004), Various - Goa Volume 9 Subway [w/ Elysium] (2004), Various - Urban Legends Clear Vision (PsyCraft Remix) (2004), Various - Goa 2004 Vol. 2 & Various - Mental Case The Slapper (2004), Mapusa Mapusa & Laureth - Irresistible Meltdown 3 Implant [w/ Morax] (Perfect Stranger Remix) (2005), Various - Globalize Anything U Want [w/ Danni Makov] (Zen Mechanics Remix) (2005), Ganje, Duniya & Rush Maze (2005), Various - dtect Volume 2 Space Boogie [feat. DJ Nadi] (2006), Various - Goa 2006 Vol. 3 Space Boogie [feat. DJ Nadi] (Aerospace Remix) (2006), DJ Huda-G - G-Spot & Various - Hexagon Experience Chapter SPO [w/ 40%] (2007), Various - Goa-Head Volume Six Feet Under (Perfect Stranger Rmx) (2007), Various - Global Goa Trance Network Patterns Of [w/ Danni Makov] (A Balter Extended Version) (2008), Emok & Banel - Set:8 - Electronic Ballroom & DJ Mikadho - Goa Beach Volume 8 Suspended Animation (2009), DJ Edoardo - Neurology Volume:3 Patterns Of [w/ Danni Makov] (A Balter & Eitan Reiter Remix) (2011), Emok - Best Of My Sets vol 02 Six Feet Under (Perfect Stranger Live Mix) (2011), Banel - Best Of My Sets Monkey & The Rabbit (Egorythmia Remix) (2011), Vaishiyas - Progressive Psytrance Picks Vol. 07 Monkey + The Rabbit Shoulder (2011), DJ Microstar - Special Blend Vol.01
Discography - Perfect Stranger Albums Learning = Change (2006), Iboga Records Changed (2007), Iboga Records Free Cloud (2008), Iboga Records Leap of Faith (2012), Iboga Records Eleven (2018), Iboga Records Broadcasting & Receiving (2023), Iboga Records
Compilations Set/4 - Essentials by Yuli Fershtat (2005), Iboga Records Hibernation by Yuli Fershtat (2006), Iboga Records
Singles & EPs Ode Ao Sol Remixes (2008), Beef Records Clear Vision 07' EP (2008), Iboga Records Stardust EP (2009), Iboga Records Forty Two (2010), Digital Structures Engines On (2010), Digital Structures Clear Vision 07-Remixes (2010), Echoes Records Lizard (2010), Echoes Records Prata Da Casa EP (2010), Flow Vinyl The Bite (2011), Digital Structures Slope (2011), Digital Structures OUCH! (2011), Digital Structures Koltun Remixes (2012), Digital Structures Twist In Hell (2012), Iboga Records Leap Of Faith EP (2013), Iboga Records Sad Paradise Remixing Perfect Stranger (2013), Iboga Records Pick N' Roll (2013), Digital Structures Perfect Stranger Remixes (2013), Iboga Records Slope 2014 (2014), Digital Structures Perfect Stranger Remixes (2014), Iboga Records Been There Done That (2014), Digital Structures Himmelrich (2014), Iboga Records
Appearances It’s All About (2005), Tony Comanti - Grand Avenue What's The Lineup (2005), Banel & Emok - Set/5 - Summer Collection Nobody's Perfect (2005), Yuli Fershtat - Set/4 - Essentials Diamond In The Rough [w/ Behind Blue Eyes] (2006), Various - Goa 2006 Vol. 4 Truth [w/ Emok] (2006), DJ Bim - Goa 2006 Vol.5 Starter (2006), Various - Digital Age Consequences (2006), Various - Tantra Trance Vol. 2 & Various - Progressive Movement & Various - Progressive Beats Perfect Ace [w/ Ace Ventura] (2006), Various - Think Different & Various - Goa Love Vol. 1 Breeze (2006), Various - :In:Deep:An:Dance: 2006 & Various - Goabeats Diamond In The Rough [w/ Behind Blue Eyes] (Perfect Stranger Edit) (2006), Various - Daily Basis Diamond In The Rough [w/ Behind Blue Eyes] (BBE Mix) (2006), Emok & Banel - Dawn Summer Collection Vol. 2 Bliss (2006), Various - Goa Girl Volume 3 & Yuli Fershtat - Hibernation Eyes Wide Open [w/ Sunseek] (2007), Various - Progressive Goa Trance Volume 6 & Vedant & Odiseo - Switch Perfect Ace [w/ Ace Ventura] (Atmos Remix) (2007), Emok & Banel - Progressive Goa Trance Volume 5 & Various - Diamonds Eyes Wide Open [w/ Sunseek] & Hyperdrive (Behind Blue Eyes Rmx) (2007), Various - Yellow Sunshine Explosion New Releases !!! & Behind Blue Eyes - CPH The Medicine (2007), DJ Zombi - Drums And Roses Mountain High [w/ Morax] (2007), Various - Trancendental Journey Volume 1 & DJ Bim - Goa 2008 Vol.1 Ode Ao Sol [feat. Pena] (2007), Citizen aka Zen Mechanics - Uncharted