Somebody was right when they thought, "you know, we're really going topiss some fans off with this one." I don't mind so much the twopiano-only bits which hint at a person taking a collegiate levelcomposition course, but the songs that have been the Clientele'sstrength for years are nearly completely absent. The new EP on Spain'sAcuarela label is inspired by the paintings of Giorgio de Chirico andcould have been either left in the group's archives or filtered in to afuture album. As a standalone EP, however, it's completely avoidable.The first real song, "Summer Crowds in Europe," is way too short andinstrumental. It's the pretty fanfare Clientele are good at with aresonant guitar leading a talented bassline and steady drum. However,the EP's middle piece can be completely thrown away. I have listened toa number of drones in my lifetime and will occasionally love them, but"The Sea Inside a Shell" completely sucks beyond belief. It's somebodysitting at an organ for 8½ minutes, adding one note at a time until thething's a complete unlistenable mess. (God my ears hurt more than thenew Pan Sonic record at only three minutes into the track!) This couldbe the longest 8.5 minute track known to man. (Only once have I made itthrough without skipping the track.) The second piano bit follows andfinally, at last (and after what seems too long), the group emerge withtheir only vocal track, "Impossible," which could easily make theirnext album great. The price of admission for this EP isn't worth it,however. Read More
