What can be said about The Clean? In 1978, they were the seeds of New Zealand punk and the reason for the founding of Flying Nun, one of the greatest record labels that ever existed. They carved out a big sandbox for everyone to play in, and their influence resonated not only in New Zealand but around the world. Not only do bands like Yo La Tengo, Guided By Voices, Sonic Youth, Pavement, and their ilk owe a debt to The Clean, but many of today's young upstarts such as Times New Viking, Eat Skull, and a band from China called Carsick Cars have the Dunedin godfathers deeply etched into their DNA.
I've personally witnessed four or five waves of rediscovery of The Clean in the years since I first heard them in 1986, and the stuff just continues to educate. Homestead's US issue of Compilation in the late '80s and Merge's double-disc Anthology from 2002 both laid out a complete rulebook, and a pretty in-depth one at that. Nevertheless, if someone else compiles them again in 2015, it's going to resonate just as strongly. Simply put, the music of the brothers Kilgour and Bob Scott holds up pretty damn well in 2009 for anyone checking them out for the first or 5,000th time.
What's the sound? It's completely theirs but draws on everything from the psychedelic paste of Barrett/early Floyd to vintage Velvets propulsiveness to almost everything else under the sun. In the case of the live staple "Point That Thing Somewhere Else," here is a song that levitates any room in a way that makes you swear the band just stepped out of Conny Plank's studio in Germany with all the bulldozing power of Hawkwind. Their jubilance at times (the organ-laced "Tally Ho," "Beatnik," "Whatever I Do") makes the Banana Splits sound like Bauhaus while simultaneously exhibiting dark undercurrents, making Bauhaus sound like the Banana Splits. They created both full studio sound and lo-fi recordings before, during, and after the various waves of the 4-track revolution, making both recording modes work with no loss of the band's identity. As far as other influences, you can hear Arthur Lee, Shirley Collins, and the Rolling Stones, among others, but it's never a kind of forced appropriation; while some bands seem to say, "Look at my record collection," in the case of The Clean, it's organic, seamless, and inimitable. Though hardly as prolific as The Fall, another maverick group of originality, The Clean have endured for almost as long while maintaining a completely unique, quality stamp that's often replicated but never quite mastered by anyone but themselves. They're also one of the best (and sometimes loudest) live bands I've had the pleasure of seeing.
The Clean's modern age has seen them splitting time and hemispheres: David has a reputable solo catalog; Bob has the Bats; and Hamish has been an endearing and enduring fixture in New York City, playing with assorted combos including his own Mad Scene with wife Lisa. The Clean's 2007 three-night stand in NYC was nothing short of a celebration of intersecting fanbases, so this fall's Mister Pop sees them continue the great pop pastiche. Circus ragas ("Moonjumper"), gorgeously hazy sunset anthems ("In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul"), and the sometimes loose Dada approach to wordsmithery continue right alongside "proper" lyrical forays, and yep, a few Autobahn referential instro moments to boot ("Tensile"). Bob's love of pastoral UK folk has brought some added weight into the overall Clean equation, as does David's Eastern and African guitar jones, though all this has always fit in with and still constitutes the total basis of The Clean sound journey.
Brian Turner
WFMU Music Director
Jersey City, NJ
I've personally witnessed four or five waves of rediscovery of The Clean in the years since I first heard them in 1986, and the stuff just continues to educate. Homestead's US issue of Compilation in the late '80s and Merge's double-disc Anthology from 2002 both laid out a complete rulebook, and a pretty in-depth one at that. Nevertheless, if someone else compiles them again in 2015, it's going to resonate just as strongly. Simply put, the music of the brothers Kilgour and Bob Scott holds up pretty damn well in 2009 for anyone checking them out for the first or 5,000th time.
What's the sound? It's completely theirs but draws on everything from the psychedelic paste of Barrett/early Floyd to vintage Velvets propulsiveness to almost everything else under the sun. In the case of the live staple "Point That Thing Somewhere Else," here is a song that levitates any room in a way that makes you swear the band just stepped out of Conny Plank's studio in Germany with all the bulldozing power of Hawkwind. Their jubilance at times (the organ-laced "Tally Ho," "Beatnik," "Whatever I Do") makes the Banana Splits sound like Bauhaus while simultaneously exhibiting dark undercurrents, making Bauhaus sound like the Banana Splits. They created both full studio sound and lo-fi recordings before, during, and after the various waves of the 4-track revolution, making both recording modes work with no loss of the band's identity. As far as other influences, you can hear Arthur Lee, Shirley Collins, and the Rolling Stones, among others, but it's never a kind of forced appropriation; while some bands seem to say, "Look at my record collection," in the case of The Clean, it's organic, seamless, and inimitable. Though hardly as prolific as The Fall, another maverick group of originality, The Clean have endured for almost as long while maintaining a completely unique, quality stamp that's often replicated but never quite mastered by anyone but themselves. They're also one of the best (and sometimes loudest) live bands I've had the pleasure of seeing.
The Clean's modern age has seen them splitting time and hemispheres: David has a reputable solo catalog; Bob has the Bats; and Hamish has been an endearing and enduring fixture in New York City, playing with assorted combos including his own Mad Scene with wife Lisa. The Clean's 2007 three-night stand in NYC was nothing short of a celebration of intersecting fanbases, so this fall's Mister Pop sees them continue the great pop pastiche. Circus ragas ("Moonjumper"), gorgeously hazy sunset anthems ("In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul"), and the sometimes loose Dada approach to wordsmithery continue right alongside "proper" lyrical forays, and yep, a few Autobahn referential instro moments to boot ("Tensile"). Bob's love of pastoral UK folk has brought some added weight into the overall Clean equation, as does David's Eastern and African guitar jones, though all this has always fit in with and still constitutes the total basis of The Clean sound journey.
Brian Turner
WFMU Music Director
Jersey City, NJ
05/14/13
On June 25, David Kilgour & the Heavy Eights will release “Christopher Columbus” b/w “Shifting Sands,” a new limited-edition 7-inch. Watch the new video for “Christopher Columbus” now!
David began writing “Christopher Columbus” while on a European tour with The Clean. A flight delay led to a visit to a statue of Christopher Columbus in Rambla de Santa Monica. David wrote, “It got me thinking about how his discovery of America led the world to where we are now. Where are we now? I like to think we are now looking at the beginning of the end of the corporate way of capitalist life which, as we know it, essentially came out of Chicago via the economist Milton Friedman and is basically a completely inhuman idea. Columbus knew there was more to explore—yeah he knew! Little did he know where it would end up.”
“Shifting Sands” was originally recorded by US group The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band in 1967. You can find the track on their LP Part One. “The Pop Art Toasters (the band Martin Phillipps and I performed with) recorded another song of theirs way back called “I Won’t Hurt You,” said David. “The track is on the b-side in that grand tradition of putting something a li’l different on a b-side. This track will not be on the next LP. It may not even be available as a digi download, so the punters will have to buy the 45 to get the track!”
Pre-order David Kilgour & the Heavy Eights’ limited-edition “Christopher Columbus” b/w “Shifting Sands” 7-inch now in the Merge store.
Click here to view the embedded video.
David began writing “Christopher Columbus” while on a European tour with The Clean. A flight delay led to a visit to a statue of Christopher Columbus in Rambla de Santa Monica. David wrote, “It got me thinking about how his discovery of America led the world to where we are now. Where are we now? I like to think we are now looking at the beginning of the end of the corporate way of capitalist life which, as we know it, essentially came out of Chicago via the economist Milton Friedman and is basically a completely inhuman idea. Columbus knew there was more to explore—yeah he knew! Little did he know where it would end up.”
“Shifting Sands” was originally recorded by US group The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band in 1967. You can find the track on their LP Part One. “The Pop Art Toasters (the band Martin Phillipps and I performed with) recorded another song of theirs way back called “I Won’t Hurt You,” said David. “The track is on the b-side in that grand tradition of putting something a li’l different on a b-side. This track will not be on the next LP. It may not even be available as a digi download, so the punters will have to buy the 45 to get the track!”
Pre-order David Kilgour & the Heavy Eights’ limited-edition “Christopher Columbus” b/w “Shifting Sands” 7-inch now in the Merge store.
Click here to view the embedded video.
02/22/12
The Clean will make a rare visit to the US for shows this summer with label mates Times New Viking!
David, Hamish & Robert will start their tour in Los Angeles and make a stop at the Chaos in Tejas festival before joining up with Times New Viking in Boston! Get your tickets now!
The Clean’s latest release Mister Pop is available along with other great selections from their catalog in the Merge store. Times New Viking’s Merge debut Dancer Equired is available on CD, LP and digital download in the Merge store, too.
Times New Viking’s “No Room to Live” by Merge Records
The Clean’s “Tally Ho” by Merge Records
The Clean’s “In the Dreamlife U Need a Rubber Soul” by Merge Records
The Clean on tour
* = w/ Times New Viking
May 30 Los Angeles, CA The Echo
June 2 Austin, TX Club De Ville Chaos in Tejas Festival
June 4 Allston, MA Brighton Music *
June 5 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge *
June 6 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s *
June 7 Washington, DC Rock & Roll Hotel *
June 8 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506 *
David, Hamish & Robert will start their tour in Los Angeles and make a stop at the Chaos in Tejas festival before joining up with Times New Viking in Boston! Get your tickets now!
The Clean’s latest release Mister Pop is available along with other great selections from their catalog in the Merge store. Times New Viking’s Merge debut Dancer Equired is available on CD, LP and digital download in the Merge store, too.
Times New Viking’s “No Room to Live” by Merge Records
The Clean’s “Tally Ho” by Merge Records
The Clean’s “In the Dreamlife U Need a Rubber Soul” by Merge Records
The Clean on tour
* = w/ Times New Viking
May 30 Los Angeles, CA The Echo
June 2 Austin, TX Club De Ville Chaos in Tejas Festival
June 4 Allston, MA Brighton Music *
June 5 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge *
June 6 Philadelphia, PA Johnny Brenda’s *
June 7 Washington, DC Rock & Roll Hotel *
June 8 Chapel Hill, NC Local 506 *
06/29/11
Richard Buckner & David Kilgour will team up for a co-headlining tour beginning August 16 in Los Angeles! Don’t miss this opportunity to see two legendary songwriters and guitar “gods” share the stage!
Also, David Kilgour & the Heavy Eights have just released a live video for the title track off their latest release, Left by Soft. David shares some details about the video and his one-of-a-kind guitar:
Richard Buckner’s new album Our Blood is available for pre-order on CD and LP now in the Merge store. While supplies last, Our Blood pre-orders come with a limited-edition “Don’t Blame Me I Voted for Richard Buckner” bumper sticker! Also, David Kilgour’s new album Left by Soft is available on CD and digital download now in the Merge store.
Richard Buckner & David Kilgour on tour:
Also, David Kilgour & the Heavy Eights have just released a live video for the title track off their latest release, Left by Soft. David shares some details about the video and his one-of-a-kind guitar:
“We were playing at the Empire in Dunedin, an old bar that only holds abut 140 people and was made famous by the old Dunedin Sound-ers. The guitar I’m playing is a hybrid—the neck is off an oldish Epiphone acoustic, and the body was made by a guitar dude called Rob Scott. One weird thing about it is that the pickups sit on rails, so I can move them to whatever position/sound I want. It has the sound of mountains collapsing, especially at volume.”Watch David Kilgour & the Heavy Eights perform “Left by Soft” live in New Zealand
Richard Buckner’s new album Our Blood is available for pre-order on CD and LP now in the Merge store. While supplies last, Our Blood pre-orders come with a limited-edition “Don’t Blame Me I Voted for Richard Buckner” bumper sticker! Also, David Kilgour’s new album Left by Soft is available on CD and digital download now in the Merge store.
Richard Buckner & David Kilgour on tour:
* = Richard Buckner only
July 29 Chicago, IL – Schubas*
July 30 Milwaukee, WI – 3rd Annual Radio Summer Camp Music Festival*
July 31 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club*
Aug 16 Los Angeles, CA – Bootleg Theater
Aug 17 San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
Aug 19 Portland, OR – Bunk Bar
Aug 20 Seattle, WA – The Triple Door
Aug 23 Atlanta, GA – Smith’s Olde Bar
Aug 24 Chapel Hill, NC – The ArtsCenter
Aug 25 Arlington, VA – IOTA Club & Café
Aug 27 Brooklyn, NY – The Bell House
Aug 28 Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall
Sept 09 Big Indian, NY – Truck Festival*
Sept 10 Big Indian, NY – Truck Festival*
Sept 11 Big Indian, NY – Truck Festival*
09/28/10
Teenage Fanclub will appear live on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon tonight! They will perform “Baby Lee” from their latest album, Shadows.
Teenage Fanclub are now on tour with Radar Brothers and will play tonight at the Bowery Ballroom in New York with The Clean, too! Shadows is available on CD and digital download in the Merge store where you can also find a special Radar Brothers / Teenage Fanclub bundle in honor of their tour.
Teenage Fanclub on tour:
9/28 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom* w/ Radar Brothers AND The Clean
9/30 Brooklyn, NY Williamsburg Waterfront w/ Belle & Sebastian
10/01 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero*
10/02 Washington, DC 9:30 Club* w/ Radar Brothers & The Vaselines
10/03 Millvale, PA Mr. Small’s Theater*
10/05 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall*
10/06 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall*
10/07 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue*
10/11 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theater*
10/12 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore*
10/14 Seattle, WA Showbox at the Market w/ Superchunk & Telekinesis
10/15 Portland, OR Showbox at the Market w/ Superchunk & Telekinesis
10/16 Vancouver, BC Biltmore Cabaret
Teenage Fanclub are now on tour with Radar Brothers and will play tonight at the Bowery Ballroom in New York with The Clean, too! Shadows is available on CD and digital download in the Merge store where you can also find a special Radar Brothers / Teenage Fanclub bundle in honor of their tour.
Teenage Fanclub on tour:
9/28 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom* w/ Radar Brothers AND The Clean
9/30 Brooklyn, NY Williamsburg Waterfront w/ Belle & Sebastian
10/01 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero*
10/02 Washington, DC 9:30 Club* w/ Radar Brothers & The Vaselines
10/03 Millvale, PA Mr. Small’s Theater*
10/05 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall*
10/06 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall*
10/07 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue*
10/11 Los Angeles, CA El Rey Theater*
10/12 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore*
10/14 Seattle, WA Showbox at the Market w/ Superchunk & Telekinesis
10/15 Portland, OR Showbox at the Market w/ Superchunk & Telekinesis
10/16 Vancouver, BC Biltmore Cabaret
08/25/10
The Clean will return to the US in September to play some shows! David, Hamish & Robert will kick off their tour at Maxwell’s in Hoboken and then head west giving lucky fans an all-too-rare chance to see them play live!
The Clean’s latest release Mister Pop is available along with other great selections from their catalog in the Merge store.
The Clean on tour:
Sep 29 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell’s
Sep 30 Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge
Oct 04 San Francisco, CA The Independent
Oct 05 Portland, OR Holocene
The Clean’s latest release Mister Pop is available along with other great selections from their catalog in the Merge store.
The Clean on tour:
Sep 29 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell’s
Sep 30 Chicago, IL Bottom Lounge
Oct 04 San Francisco, CA The Independent
Oct 05 Portland, OR Holocene
05/04/10
Spring has sprung and it is time for a new free Merge sampler! Featuring hit songs from the latest albums of Radar Brothers, Spoon, Let’s Wrestle, She & Him and more, visit amazon.com now to download all fourteen free songs with special cover art by Let’s Wrestle’s Wesley Patrick Gonzalez!
As always, you can find new albums from all of these artists and more in our handy Merge store.
Free Merge 2010 digital sampler track listing:
1. Radar Brothers – Horses Warriors (from The Illustrated Garden)
2. Let’s Wrestle – I Won’t Lie to You (from In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s)
3. Destroyer – The Very Modern Dance (from Streethawk: A Seduction)
4. Shout Out Louds – Fall Hard (from Work)
5. Spoon – Written in Reverse (from Transference)
6. Lou Barlow – Don’t Apologize (from Goodnight Unknown)
7. She & Him – Thieves (from Volume Two)
8. Superchunk – Learned to Surf (from Leaves in the Gutter)
9. Alec Bathgate – Glide (from Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox)
10. The Clientele – I Wonder Who We Are (from Bonfires on the Heath)
11. Caribou – Odessa (from Swim)
12. The Clean – In the Dreamlife U Need a Rubber Soul (from Mister Pop)
13. Wye Oak – I Hope You Die (from My Neighbor / My Creator)
14. Lambchop – Give It (from Live at XX Merge)
As always, you can find new albums from all of these artists and more in our handy Merge store.
Free Merge 2010 digital sampler track listing:
1. Radar Brothers – Horses Warriors (from The Illustrated Garden)
2. Let’s Wrestle – I Won’t Lie to You (from In the Court of the Wrestling Let’s)
3. Destroyer – The Very Modern Dance (from Streethawk: A Seduction)
4. Shout Out Louds – Fall Hard (from Work)
5. Spoon – Written in Reverse (from Transference)
6. Lou Barlow – Don’t Apologize (from Goodnight Unknown)
7. She & Him – Thieves (from Volume Two)
8. Superchunk – Learned to Surf (from Leaves in the Gutter)
9. Alec Bathgate – Glide (from Stroke: Songs for Chris Knox)
10. The Clientele – I Wonder Who We Are (from Bonfires on the Heath)
11. Caribou – Odessa (from Swim)
12. The Clean – In the Dreamlife U Need a Rubber Soul (from Mister Pop)
13. Wye Oak – I Hope You Die (from My Neighbor / My Creator)
14. Lambchop – Give It (from Live at XX Merge)
03/30/10
On their way to All Tomorrow’s Parties in England, The Clean will stop in NYC to play the sold out Chris Knox benefit on May 6 as well as a headlining show at The Bell House in Brooklyn on Friday, May 7.
Tickets are on sale now for The Bell House and you can get The Clean’s most recent album, Mister Pop, as well as any of their catalog releases in the Merge store.
Tickets are on sale now for The Bell House and you can get The Clean’s most recent album, Mister Pop, as well as any of their catalog releases in the Merge store.
03/29/10
On Thursday, May 6, Jeff Mangum, The Clean, Portastatic, Yo La Tengo, Kyp Malone (of TV on the Radio), Claudia Gonson (of The Magnetic Fields), Sharon Van Etten, John Mulaney, Robert Scott, David Kilgour & Dimmer will unite in an evening of music at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City to benefit New Zealand musician Chris Knox, who suffered a series of life-altering strokes last year.
Hosted by Le Poisson Rouge, Wordless Music and WFMU, this show comes on the heels of the recent release of Stroke, a double album compilation of artists covering Knox songs with the proceeds going to benefit him and his family. All money raised for this event, save for circa $2,500 base costs to cover direct club expenses, is going straight to the Knox family.
This event is now sold out! Thank you very much!
Stroke is available now as a limited-edition 2-CD set and digital download in the Merge store.
Hosted by Le Poisson Rouge, Wordless Music and WFMU, this show comes on the heels of the recent release of Stroke, a double album compilation of artists covering Knox songs with the proceeds going to benefit him and his family. All money raised for this event, save for circa $2,500 base costs to cover direct club expenses, is going straight to the Knox family.
This event is now sold out! Thank you very much!
Stroke is available now as a limited-edition 2-CD set and digital download in the Merge store.
09/28/09
The Clean’s new album, Mister Pop was released earlier this month to universal praise. Robert, Hamish, and David sent us a few live performance videos from late 2007 and a collection of vintage interview footage.
Watch all five and share them with your friends at The Clean’s Vimeo page. Mister Pop is available on CD and digital download in the Merge store.
“These guys invented guitar-organ grooves back in the 1980′s – lean, propulsive, intense, intoning the mantra.”
~ Rolling Stone
Watch all five and share them with your friends at The Clean’s Vimeo page. Mister Pop is available on CD and digital download in the Merge store.
“These guys invented guitar-organ grooves back in the 1980′s – lean, propulsive, intense, intoning the mantra.”
~ Rolling Stone
09/02/09
The Clean released a free MP3 download of “Tensile” from their new album, Mister Pop, which will be available in stores September 8. Download “Tensile” now and pre-order Mister Pop in the Merge store for a chance to win a free SCORE! box set!
“Tensile,” a track that sounds perfect for a windows-down autumn highway drive with its rolling bassline, chugging, distorted chords and, occasionally, gentle robot voices and squiggly synths.”~Pitchfork
“Tensile” is keyboard crescents darting around three and four-note guitar and bass figures, all green-lighted by their particular sort of Krautpop beat—the one where the robotic severity is replaced by ultra-human grooviness.” ~RCRD LBL
Also, visit the Merge blog to watch classic music videos from The Clean including Heavenly Pop, a documentary about legendary New Zealand label, Flying Nun. Robert, Hamish & David make an appearance as well as Chris Knox and other New Zealand music luminaries.
“Tensile,” a track that sounds perfect for a windows-down autumn highway drive with its rolling bassline, chugging, distorted chords and, occasionally, gentle robot voices and squiggly synths.”~Pitchfork
“Tensile” is keyboard crescents darting around three and four-note guitar and bass figures, all green-lighted by their particular sort of Krautpop beat—the one where the robotic severity is replaced by ultra-human grooviness.” ~RCRD LBL
Also, visit the Merge blog to watch classic music videos from The Clean including Heavenly Pop, a documentary about legendary New Zealand label, Flying Nun. Robert, Hamish & David make an appearance as well as Chris Knox and other New Zealand music luminaries.
08/31/09
Time is running out on our fantastic September Pre-Order contest!
To kick off the fall new release season, we will automatically enter everyone who pre-orders one (or all) of our September releases to win a complete SCORE! box set subscription. To be eligible, orders must be received prior to September 8.
Visit the Merge store to pre-order new albums from Polvo and The Clean as well as Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records for your chance to win!
If you have already pre-ordered any of our September releases, you will automatically be entered. And, yes, if you pre-order more than one September release (Polvo, The Clean, Our Noise), you get more than one chance to win!
To kick off the fall new release season, we will automatically enter everyone who pre-orders one (or all) of our September releases to win a complete SCORE! box set subscription. To be eligible, orders must be received prior to September 8.
Visit the Merge store to pre-order new albums from Polvo and The Clean as well as Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records for your chance to win!
If you have already pre-ordered any of our September releases, you will automatically be entered. And, yes, if you pre-order more than one September release (Polvo, The Clean, Our Noise), you get more than one chance to win!
08/11/09
On September 8, Merge will release new albums from The Clean and Polvo. Both albums are available to stream and for pre-order in the Merge store.
The Clean – Mister Pop
Mister Pop sees The Clean continue the great pop pastiche they began in 1978. Circus ragas (“Moonjumper”), gorgeously hazy sunset anthems (“In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul”), and the sometimes-loose Dada approach to wordsmithery continue right alongside “proper” lyrical forays, and a few Autobahn-referential instrumental moments to boot (“Tensile”). Robert Scott’s love of pastoral UK folk has brought some added weight into the overall Clean equation, as does David Kilgour’s Eastern and African guitar jones, though all this has always fit in with—and still constitutes—the total basis of the Clean sound journey.
Polvo – In Prism
Polvo formed in 1990 in Chapel Hill, NC. Their lineup consisted of vocalists/guitarists Ash Bowie and Dave Brylawski, bassist Steve Popson, and drummer Eddie Watkins. The band released 2 full-length albums and 2 EPs on Merge Records, and 2 full-length albums for Touch and Go before disbanding in 1997. Polvo, joined by drummer Brian Quast (Cherry Valence), reformed in 2008 when asked to perform at ATP by Explosions in the Sky. Several festival shows followed, and new songs emerged. The Philadelphia Weekly said in a recent preview, “In the 1990s, no one used more hard angles, sharp turns and squirrelly tunings than the dos guitarra barrage of Ash Bowie and Dave Brylawski.”
“the noise-rockers are still in fine, angular, all-over-the-map form.” ~Stereogum.com
The Clean – Mister Pop
Mister Pop sees The Clean continue the great pop pastiche they began in 1978. Circus ragas (“Moonjumper”), gorgeously hazy sunset anthems (“In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul”), and the sometimes-loose Dada approach to wordsmithery continue right alongside “proper” lyrical forays, and a few Autobahn-referential instrumental moments to boot (“Tensile”). Robert Scott’s love of pastoral UK folk has brought some added weight into the overall Clean equation, as does David Kilgour’s Eastern and African guitar jones, though all this has always fit in with—and still constitutes—the total basis of the Clean sound journey.
Polvo – In Prism
Polvo formed in 1990 in Chapel Hill, NC. Their lineup consisted of vocalists/guitarists Ash Bowie and Dave Brylawski, bassist Steve Popson, and drummer Eddie Watkins. The band released 2 full-length albums and 2 EPs on Merge Records, and 2 full-length albums for Touch and Go before disbanding in 1997. Polvo, joined by drummer Brian Quast (Cherry Valence), reformed in 2008 when asked to perform at ATP by Explosions in the Sky. Several festival shows followed, and new songs emerged. The Philadelphia Weekly said in a recent preview, “In the 1990s, no one used more hard angles, sharp turns and squirrelly tunings than the dos guitarra barrage of Ash Bowie and Dave Brylawski.”
“the noise-rockers are still in fine, angular, all-over-the-map form.” ~Stereogum.com
06/04/09
On September 8, we will release Mister Pop, The Clean’s first new studio album since 2001’s Getaway. What can be said about the Clean? In 1978, they were the seeds of New Zealand punk. They carved out a big sandbox for everyone to play in, and their influence resonated not only in New Zealand but around the world.
The New York Times described The Clean: “This New Zealand band, which has been going off and on since 1978, plays a jangly, damaged kind of guitar pop and was a primary influence on Pavement and Yo La Tengo, and therefore virtually all of current indie rock.” In 2003, we released Anthology, the 2-disc compilation of tracks and song cycles from across The Clean’s musical career. Anthology was chosen by Blender Magazine as one of the 100 Greatest Indie-Rock Albums Ever.
Mister Pop sees The Clean continue the great pop pastiche. Circus ragas (“Moonjumper”), gorgeously hazy sunset anthems (“In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul”), and the sometimes-loose Dada approach to wordsmithery continue right alongside “proper” lyrical forays, and a few Autobahn-referential instrumental moments to boot (“Tensile”). Bob’s love of pastoral UK folk has brought some added weight into the overall Clean equation, as does David’s Eastern and African guitar jones, though all this has always fit in with—and still constitutes—the total basis of the Clean sound journey.
Download “In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul” from Mister Pop.
The New York Times described The Clean: “This New Zealand band, which has been going off and on since 1978, plays a jangly, damaged kind of guitar pop and was a primary influence on Pavement and Yo La Tengo, and therefore virtually all of current indie rock.” In 2003, we released Anthology, the 2-disc compilation of tracks and song cycles from across The Clean’s musical career. Anthology was chosen by Blender Magazine as one of the 100 Greatest Indie-Rock Albums Ever.
Mister Pop sees The Clean continue the great pop pastiche. Circus ragas (“Moonjumper”), gorgeously hazy sunset anthems (“In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul”), and the sometimes-loose Dada approach to wordsmithery continue right alongside “proper” lyrical forays, and a few Autobahn-referential instrumental moments to boot (“Tensile”). Bob’s love of pastoral UK folk has brought some added weight into the overall Clean equation, as does David’s Eastern and African guitar jones, though all this has always fit in with—and still constitutes—the total basis of the Clean sound journey.
Download “In the Dreamlife You Need a Rubber Soul” from Mister Pop.
Boodle Boodle Boodle :: (Flying Nun) 1981
Great Sounds :: (Flying Nun) 1982
Live Dead Clean :: (Flying Nun) 1986
In-A-Live :: (Flying Nun) 1989
Vehicle :: CD/CS (Rough Trade) 1990
Modern Rock :: CD (Warner Bros.) 1995
Unknown Country :: CD (Warner Bros.) 1996
Getaway :: CD (Merge) 2001
Late Last Night :: (Dark Beloved Cloud) 2001
Light Pours Out :: (Shellshock) 2002
Anthology :: DBL-CD (Merge) 2003
Take Over :: (Sugarshack) 2003
Mashed :: CD (Arch Hill) 2008
Mister Pop :: CD/LP (Merge) 2009
Great Sounds :: (Flying Nun) 1982
Live Dead Clean :: (Flying Nun) 1986
In-A-Live :: (Flying Nun) 1989
Vehicle :: CD/CS (Rough Trade) 1990
Modern Rock :: CD (Warner Bros.) 1995
Unknown Country :: CD (Warner Bros.) 1996
Getaway :: CD (Merge) 2001
Late Last Night :: (Dark Beloved Cloud) 2001
Light Pours Out :: (Shellshock) 2002
Anthology :: DBL-CD (Merge) 2003
Take Over :: (Sugarshack) 2003
Mashed :: CD (Arch Hill) 2008
Mister Pop :: CD/LP (Merge) 2009
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