The Thousands

Popfrenzy’s been killing it throughout 2007, with David Vandervelde, Of Montreal, and Camera Obscura all releasing top notch pop LPs. Now you can add The Clientele to that list. Specialising in the sort of baroque-and-roll pioneered by The Left Bank and The Beatles, this London four-piece’s new release GOD SAVE THE CLIENTELE is chockablock with soothing strings, bouncing keys, lilting tremolo and shimmery slide guitar. It’s the perfect soundtrack for slippered-feet shuffling ’round the kitchen Sunday morning, whether you spent the dawn kneeling in a chapel or praying to the porcelain God (hey, we’ve all been there). **With production by Mark Nevers of Lambchop, GOD SAVE has hints of his group and contemporaries like Lilys, High Llamas and Moose. But mostly, it’s a subdued trip to a bygone time when Zombies, Monkees and Turtles roamed the land spreading good vibes, crazy light shows and crabs. Though it’s nothing terribly new, The Clientele are adept at crafting warm, orchestral pop songs. With all this weather we’ve been having, it’s the best way for a ‘Daydream Believer’ to keep cosy this ‘Time of the Season’. That, and maybe an ascot.

By Wilfred Brandt