The Clientele - Strange Geometry

What does a blindingly sparkling blue sky sound like? I think it might sound something like Merge recording artist The Clientele’s third record, Strange Geometry. Seriously, go to England; lie down in an impossibly green field on a crystal clear spring day, then tell me that’s not what this sounds like. The London-based trio’s music will delight fans of bands like Luna, and Alasdair Maclean’s vocals are breathlessly expressed in a voice akin to what I think Marc Bolan would have sounded like if he had whispered his way through a tender ballad or two. It’s an intriguing combination, but it works. Opening with the soaring sound of “Since K Got Over Me,” the album moves next to the plaintiff call of “(I Can’t Seem To) Make You Mine.” The almost Church-like “My Own Face Inside the Trees” leads you further into the record. You might slip up a little at the somewhat awkward tempo of “Impossible,” and unless you reeeeally like a British accent, you might find the slice-of-life piece “Losing Haringey” rather dull despite the lilting music in the background of the spoken word track. Personally, I find it charming. And I particularly appreciate the nostalgia of “Losing Haringey,” the phrase “the 1982-ness” used to describe remembering that time. (I remember 1982 and the 1982-ness of it. Do you?) To be honest, it took me a few listens to hear and appreciate the layers and care that go into The Clientele’s sound, but I ended up happy that I took that one extra chance before making up my mind. I will admit that it is hard to get through the whole disc at one sitting if that’s all you’re doing. It’s great background music, and it fits the mood if you’re sitting in a dimly-lit room sipping wine or just relaxing, but if you’re looking for something that’s interesting from start to finish without starting to blend one song into the next, I wouldn’t say Strange Geometry is your best bet. At any rate, in pieces, or under the right circumstances, it’s hard to beat Strange Geometry for mood music. The album is at once pristine, evocative, ethereal and melancholy. And it might just be one of the year’s least lauded gems. [www.theclientele.co.uk]