Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream

Alasdair Maclean’s voice has always intrigued me. It’s not that there’s anything so particularly wonderful about the pitch or the quality. It’s all in the delivery.  I get this feeling that The Clientele’s songs are crafted around his soothing British rasp, its gentle vulnerability and its unwavering perseverance. Maclean’s voice is what makes The Clientele’s folksy brand of eerie, delicate pop so fascinating.

But enough about voices…what about the music on UK collective The Clientele’s Bonfires on the Heath? I’m glad you asked. Take the self-deprecating God Save the Clientele, turn up the volume, and raise the urgency–and you’ve got Bonfires on the Heath. Don’t get me wrong–you’ll still get the achy ballads like “Tonight”, but you’re also getting the short-lived bits of rock on “Sketch”. The jangly “Harvest Time” is replete with the billowing plumes of harmonies and with the ebb and flow of the dancing guitar (think Pink Floyd here). “I Wonder Who We Are” is an absolute throwback to the happy-go-lucky rock of golden AM radio, ripe with ‘Bah bah bahs’ and the heavily syncopated verses. “Jennifer and Julia” is a swirling delight of horns and quivering strings, and the way Maclean says “Julia” is as amazing as it gets. All I can say is that Mel Draisey (she plays violin, keyboard, and percussion) has been an excellent addition to the band since she joined back in ’06, and you can really hear it on Bonfires on the Heath.

So do what you will, but don’t miss out on Bonfires on the Heath.

Listen to “Jennifer and Julia”

Listen to “Harvest Time“

Seriously.
It’s been way too long.
Can you forgive me?
Will you still come to this site?
In that vain:
Sondre Lerche – “No One’s Gonna Come”

**This is such a wonderful song; a great look into the then-burgeoning Sondre Lerche. I liked him much better then…..