Produced by Patrick Leonard who has, in the past, produced Elton John and Madonna, it's recognized that Casey Stratton has the goods that can carry his style through various tastes. And with an interesting collection of songs, Stratton shows that he has the mettle to push into a pop realm while maintaining a foothold in the world of classically influenced pop. His is a voice that sounds outside the realm of popular music and therefore contains a hint of longevity.

There are obvious sidesteps into arenas that are stylish such as "Blood" that sounds like Radiohead with an extraordinary voice. The pace of "Blood" is quick and the overall tone is experimental, right down to the quickened breathing at the end of the song. But the song is a part of a literal smorgasbord of approaches that range from deeply intropective and beautifully sung ("Harvest", "The Dead Sea") to dance oriented ("Contagious") to sheer beauty ("Ocean", "Bloom").

At times, Casey Stratton can bring to mind a Carly Simon with a mixture of other unremembered rock personas. But it's his unique voice that allows for dispersion and personalization of any song he chooses to sing.

The acoustic train of "Violet Room" is a refreshing discovery in this well rounded album with stop overs at many stations. Personally, I would have preferred more like "Violet Room" but this collection is an experiment unto itself while Casey Stratton strives to find his style. He certainly is capable of many styles to entertain us with.

Whether accompanied by strings or with electronica, by acoustic instruments or orchestra, Casey Stratton has the stuff to make spectacular albums in the years to come. And while this album doesn't reveal a purposeful collection, it lets us in on an unusual talent that can provide haunting beauty. With Standing at the edge, we get a glimpse into a man that can provide us with songs that can be remembered and felt long after they have ceased playing. This album of originals already has a few on it that does just that.

I look forward to Casey Stratton's next album.