Some of the greatest successes of an artist, in music or otherwise, could in some way be attributed 
to the ability to portray or define a specific moment in time, a location or a feeling. It’s an important feature of any facet of art to be fuelled by emotion; after all, the human condition is the root of all fine art. This too applies to music, and I’ve sometimes, though rarely, found myself personally yearning after a certain time of year, or weather, while listening to an album. What re-ignited this vague and unfamiliar feeling was listening to The Clientele’s sixth and latest record, Bonfires on the Heath.
The Clientele, despite their transatlantic, softer sound, are English. The sound of indie rock and pop in Britain has seemed to have taken a turn towards the angular in recent years, no less sophisticated but much more brash than what this London quartet offers. It is no surprise that they are signed to Merge Records, a large US-based label that has housed acts such as Arcade Fire and Neutral Milk Hotel – their popularity throws only a few embers across the Atlantic, barely reaching their home islands but burning bright in the states, making them unintentional expatriates. Their past work, always critically lauded but never breaking into the mainstream, seemed to be something of a build-up to Bonfires, and though the content is leaps and bounds away from the densely textured, strings laden God Save The Clientele, it still retains the indie pop sensibilities that were established in their previous work. “I Wonder Who We Are”, the album opener, injects chiming and gentle guitar lines accompanied by soft brass and precise drums. The title track that follows is lovely, evoking an evening spent inside a warm house to escape the cold – the skies darkening outside. Alasdair MacLean’s reverb drenched vocals give an almost ethereal quality to the sound, soaring above the instruments and making it easy to imagine how perfect the album title really is – the slow burn below, and the smoke disappearing into the still air. Other standout tracks include the gorgeous “Jennifer & Julia” and the latin-flavoured “I Know I’ll See Your Face”.
With Bonfires on the Heath, The Clientele have created an ideal autumn soundscape. Stand close, feel the warmth that radiates from this indie pop gem, and hope the sparks catch alight in the UK.
My rating? 8 out of 10.
Bonfires on the Heath is out now on Merge Records in the US, Pointy Records in the UK.
