Michael Head and The Strands is a short lived project of Shack and Pale Fountains singer-songwriter Michael Head. Essentially it comprises the same personnel as Shack, including brother John Head They released one album in 1997, "The Magical World of the Strands" which, like much of Head's other work, received great critical acclaim without achieving commercial success. Arguably, "The Magical World..." is seen as Head's finest achievement.