Clientele - Music for The Age of Miracles

by Tommy Gunnarsson

published: 2 / 10 / 2017

Clientele - Music for The Age of Miracles

Label: Tapete Records
Format: CD

intro

Fabulous, long-awaited album from melancholic indiepop outfit the Clientele who have returned after a seven year absence this time with a new fourth member

I really can't believe that it's already been seven years since the release of 'Minotaur', the last proper release from The Clientele. Time does fly! When I reviewed that mini album for Pennyblackmusic back in 2010, I welcomed the ”old” Clientele back, and apparently they decided to stay that way for this album as well. These are twelve tracks full of reverb-filled guitars and vocals, strange poetic lyrics, melodic bass lines and great drumming – all in all, this London trio doesn't let you down. The press release mentions band leader Alasdair MacLean's chance meeting with an old friend, Anthony Harmer, who now happened to be a whiz at the Iranian version of the dulcimer, Santoor, and how that renewed friendship more or less resulted in this new Clientele album. Harmer joined the band's line-up, and can be heard playing not only Santoor, but also guitars, keyboards, singing backing vocals and so on. To be honest, I didn't notice the inclusion of the Iranian instrument when I first listened to the album, but when I read that it was prominently featured on the song 'Falling Asleep', I had to listen more closely, and yes... I can hear it now. And I must admit that I think the inclusion of this Middle East instrument makes a lot more sense to the Clientele's sound than the inclusion of the violin on a couple of albums in the mid 00's. It's great to have the guys back on track, and I hope they're not taking another indefinite hiatus again now. During the past ten years, I have more or less lost interest in the so called indiepop scene, but The Clientele is one of the few bands that still catches my interest. Maybe because they're not really an indiepop band? Well, I guess so. They're just brilliant. That's all.

Track Listing:-

1 The Neighbour
2 Lyra in April
3 Lunar Days
4 Falling Asleep
5 Everything You See Tonight Is Different from Itself
6 Lyra in October
7 Everyone You Meet
8 The Circus
9 Constellations Echo Lanes
10 The Museum of Fog
11 North Circular Days
12 The Age of Miracles
13 All Alone
14 Lyra in August

Band Links:-

http://www.theclientele.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/theclienteleofficial
https://twitter.com/theclientele
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Clientele

Label Links:-

http://www.tapeterecords.de/
https://www.facebook.com/tapeterecords
https://twitter.com/tapete
https://www.youtube.com/user/tapeterecords/videos

interviews

Interview (2015)

Tommy Gunnarsson speaks to Alasdair MacLean, the front man with cult indie pop band the Clientele, about their new compilation,out a compilation called 'Alone and Unreal: The Best of the Clientele', and their past, present and future

Interview (2010)

Interview (2002)

live reviews

Uffe's Kallare, Växjö, Sweden, 16/10/2002

The Clientele recently played a four date tour of Sweden. Tommy Gunnarsson catches them on fine form and at their intimate best in a tiny basement club