Clair de Lune - Marionettes

With Marionettes, the Minneapolis based Clair de Lune have released a complex and densely layered album that could draw stylistic comparisons to At the Drive-In, Fugazi and Elton John. Read that sentence again. Anything jump out at you? Clair de Lune's insistence on using a piano as a prominent figure in almost every track is a glaring flaw in what is an otherwise well-written and skillfully performed album. Not that I wish it away completely; there are moments when it fits in quite well, but its effectiveness could be enhanced greatly by a more selective usage. The transition between "Life on Remote" and "Passenger View" or the relatively simplistic instrumental "Twenty Threes" would stand out if the use of piano wasn't as prevalent elsewhere. Instead, moments like these are left with kind of a ho-hum feel. The band seems to have a very keen sense of dynamics. The tracks on Marionettes often feature instrumental breakdowns, at first cutting the high level of intensity off at the knees, then slowly building it back up and beyond. This creates the potential for some very memorable moments; however, the album's muddy production all but renders the point moot. Marionettes shows Clair de Lune's potential to both dazzle and annoy. Its tidy length (a hair under 40 minutes) keeps their sound from wearing too thin, and they consistently give the listener enough to stay interested the whole way through. If they trimmed some of the fat (piano, two singers trading vocal phrases - don't even get me started there) and tightened their focus a bit, they have all the tools to make an outstanding album. Until then, if you happen to find yourself at one of their shows, do us all a favor and steal the piano-guy's gear. [www.cdlmusic.com]