Editorial Reviews
Music Review:
Music Review
Schubert: Alfonso und Estella Harmoniemusik
Music: Living in a Square World
Reactivate, Vol. 18 (Unmixed) [Import]
Mr Tamborine Man [Extra tracks]
Specials [Enhanced] [Original recording remastered]
Socca Ballin' [Explicit Lyrics]
Amazon.com
Picture Galaxie 500 tackling Nick Drake's Bryter Layter under the heavy influence of Velvet Underground ballads. Now, place it in the context of a misty early morning: the sky turning a dark blue, the neighborhood still asleep, your thoughts unusually clear and vivid. Such is the rarified, intangibly gauzy mood the Clientele evokes; indeed, it's no accident that the words "rain" and "morning" show up in so many of their song titles. This London-area trio has been following its own low-key path for a few years now, recording a series of hard-to-find 7-inch singles and compilation tracks for small labels in Europe and Japan. March Records compiled four of the best songs on 2000's A Summer Fading EP, and the full-length Suburban Light includes most of the remaining tracks, throwing in a few previously unreleased gems for good measure. Many of the songs follow a certain atmospheric template, led by Alasdair MacLean's keening voice and echoey, shimmery guitar. However, the Clientele is careful not to fall into a rut, shifting moods and sounds just often enough to always keep things fresh. You will hear hints of the Zombies, Go-Betweens, and prime New Zealand pop in the more up-tempo tracks, such as "Rain" and "From a Window." You could easily get lost in Suburban Light's layers of reverb and reflection. This is a CD that begs repeated plays. --Mike Appelstein
Album Description
Every once in a while one hears a rustling in the bushes. A buzz if you will. All your friends are talking about this 7 inch they found, and how this band is going to change the world, or at least has already changed theirs. Such is the nature of the organic groundswell surrounding London's The Clientele. These three British lads create an enchanting sound that is haunting, fragile, sublime and somehow strangely tragic. This version includes 3 tracks unavailable on the import only CD (these 3 tracks will replace tracks released in the U.S. on the A Fading Summer EP), 'What Goes Up', '6am Mornin gside' and 'From A Window'. 13 tracks.