If Clearlake were just a tad more into pretty pop instead of lush techo melodies they’d be Cold Play and, since one Cold Play is more than enough, cheers to the melancholy tunes of Clearlake! On their EP, Almost The Same the four man band, originally from the English seaside town of Hove, waste no time in claiming their techo territory.
The title track is quick to introduce the very Brit/semi-space age sound. In lesser hands, this could amount to a bunch of noise, but Clearlake keeps their melodies floating with a killer rhythm section and the achingly sparse vocals of Jason Pegg. Ambient sonic sounds also pop up in other tunes such as “Let Go” and “Something to Look Forward To”. The later of the two stands out as a perfect ode to the growing sense of isolation felt by disaffected and disconnected youth, even as the cyber world strives to keep everyone connected at all times. “I need something, but I don’t know about you” croons Pegg as he struggles to escape from the boredom of the daily grind.
Things look up a bit on the bittersweet track, “Winterlight”. Song is a classic example of mixing a talented band with top-notch production work. The layering of vocals and techo grooves is truly a wonder and moves further into the realm of Euro based techno instead of settling for the simple pulsing grooves usually found throughout the U.K. club scene.
If you are looking for mood music, Clearlake is the band for you. Be prepared though to sacrifice whatever mood you are in because this band will sweep you away into their own world without a moment’s notice. Not a bad option though . . . as long as they keep producing stellar sonic songs like “Winterlight”. |