however,
Reflections After Jane
This is a band with some powerful love songs, but I guess this one is actually more about marijuana than an ex lover. Love the laziness in the guitar work, the song sounds like it's waking up, rubbing its eyes, yawning, trying to remember a dream.
We Could Walk Together
The guitar motif in the bridge/chorus is perfection, if I knew how to play guitar I would buy a telecaster, a vintage amp and whatever pedals Alasdair is using, and if I were able to reproduce his sound there would be no end to my joy.
Missing
This is a glorious ballad, love the acoustic guitar. It's truly sad, but for some reason it's one of those melancholy Clientele songs that never fails to pick me up when I'm down, it's like a knowing pat on the shoulder, an old friend saying: it's OK. What is it that makes this music so comforting? I'm grateful this song exists.
Since K Got Over Me
This was the first Clientele song I heard and I was instantly hooked, it completely stopped me in my tracks, and I remember thinking, as the rockist teenager I was: Wow, they still make music like this! Love the drum fills, the guitar licks, the tone, all of Alasdair's phrasings. I used to think it was about the main character from The Trial, then I thought it was about a lover, maybe it's about ketamine? Too many stellar moments to mention, but I never fail to find it completely magical when Alasdair sings "but every night a strange geometry" in the outro. Gets my vote.
(I Can't Seem) To Make You Mine
The sense of longing is strong with this one. Lush and complete with delicate strings, Alasdair's delivery of the lines "and the beast is pondering love love love" is great. Sometimes smoke gets in my eyes when I hear this one.
Losing Haringey
I don't think I ever listened to the monologue in full, but what always pulls me in is when he gets to the part about being stuck in a photograph with a strong feeling of 1982-ness. There's an instrumental version on the bonus cd to the SG reissue, but for some reason I find it more satisfying to listen to the music with the monotone monologue on top, even though I don't really pay attention to the words. It's an interesting song, Velvet Underground did a talking on top of music song as well, I guess it's kind of a trope, it's really well executed here. Alasdair's background la-la-las are essential. It's also a song that reminds me that probably Alasdair is quite interested in psychedelic drugs.
Bookshop Casanova
This one is a jam, a Clientele song you can dance to, lyrics remind me of the Beatles "You Know My Name" song. There was a video to this one, I seem to recall thinking it was an attempt to have a hit? Maybe it was a hit. Guitar solo rocks. The "goood night" outro vocals are a bit side B of Abbey Road.
The Queen Of Seville
Does it get more lush? That piano riff is adorable, Alasdair's whispery vocals are perfect. I don't know who the queen of Seville is, but the song sends me travelling. "It's going to be a lonely, lonely day" is another Clientele refrain that for some reason never fails to comfort me.
Never Anyone But You
Verse has a great drive, bridge is perfectly complementary - and then there's that falsetto delivery of another unforgettable Alasdair phrase: "I can only see you"
Harvest Time
A great, mysterious, ethereal vibe on this - in part achieved through the signature tremolo guitar, in part through the oohing backing vocals. Takes me away to some fantasy fields, where everything's the color of sunset.
On A Summer Trail
This is a nice little tune, decent trumpet solo too. Is there something rennaissance about the instrumentation? Is that a harpsichord?
The Evening In Your Eyes
This is a perfect song, and one where the lofi sound is as beautiful as any hifi recording. Anyone who ever had a heart will appreciate the release when Alasdair finally sings the title. Really like the drums on this one too.
Saturday
I'm hungover, it's saturday, this is a good song to put on. Is the guitar slightly out of tune, and does that make it sound even better somehow, more vulnerable? Has kind of a jammy, live vibe.
Sweeten Your Eyes
Was this previously unreleased? Verse is tremendous, great drive. It's a simple song, subtle but effective. What does it mean to sweeten your eyes? I don't know, but I like the sentiment.
Southern Way
A nice little song, the melodic change from straightforward verse to mystical bridge is classic Clientele.
Rain
This is another great song. There's something funny about the slightly staccato delivery, is Alasdair doing something with his accent on this one? Paints a hazy scene vividly.
When She's Tired Of Dancing
There's something slightly off about this one, surely intended, a rare glimpse of disharmony in the world of the Clientele.
Places Out Of Mind
Nice slide guitar on this melancholy gem.
6AM Morningside
The melody reminds me of another song, can't remember which. It is indeed a beautiful snapshot.
Wintertime
Very cinematic, this one, reminds me of the suspense I felt when I read detective stories as a kid. Rhythm section kicks ass.
From A Window
Feel like this could have been a kraut jam, but it's a gorgeous little pop song instead. Nice 60s vibe, is that a sitar?
― niels, Saturday, 3 February 2018 13:12 (six years ago) link
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