Clogs
http://www.clogsmusic.com
styles: neo-classical, indie rock chamber music
others: The Books, The National, Godspeed You! Black Emperor
 Lantern
Brassland, 2006
rating: 4/5
reviewer: chadwicked
Musicianship. In the world of indie rock it isn't necessary. Some would go so
far as to say it's a rarity. Honing in on a craft, mastering an instrument takes
a backseat to aesthetics and hype. When a band, or should I say an ensemble,
such as Clogs comes along, not only should we perk our ears, but we should pay
our respect and gratitude. Led by Bryce Dessner and Padma Newsome, Clogs bring a
classical music approach to an indie rock world. They bring strings, bassoons,
melodicas, and – this time around – a ukulele and mandola.
Lantern, their fourth album, executes music through patience and savvy.
These are trained artists making evocative music – "evocative," as in something
within you wells and throbs when you devote the proper time and attention to it.
If you listen closely enough, you may even catch a few punches to the lungs. And
who doesn't enjoy a good lung punch every so often? For those familiar with the
music of Clogs, Lantern won't sound like much of a departure, but a
definite improvement. The nuance of piano, the swelling strings that exercise
restraint, the welling and wheeze of a crescendo – it all delivers.
Indie rock listeners typically end their classical listening when they leave
freshman semester's Music Appreciation class final exam. Clogs are a chance to
extend that education. For all its centuries-old influences, the music retains a
contemporary sound. You could mistake Clogs for Godspeed You! Black Emperor just
as easily as you could mistake them for Charles Ives. Clogs don't seem overtly
concerned with politics, hype, or faux-hawks. The stress is placed on the music.
Not everyone, even in the beloved indie rock world, can claim that.
1. Kapsburger
2. Canon
3. 5/4
4. 2:3:5
5. Death and the Maiden
6. Lantern
7. Tides of Washington Bridge
8. The Song of the Cricket
9. Fiddlegree
10. Compass
11. Voisins
12. Tides (Piano)
 Lullaby
for Sue
Brassland, 2003
rating: 4/5
reviewer: amneziak
I’ve always had this thought in the back of my head where I wonder what
classical composers like Mozart and Beethoven would think of modern music. Since
they haven’t heard anything since the pieces they created (hundreds of years
ago), how would they respond to new combinations and instruments? That’s the
first thing that came to mind when I heard the band Clogs. Clogs is an ensemble
that will most likely go unnoticed in today’s music scene, at least until
classical music makes its break into the mainstream of independent music
fans. On the other hand, maybe they’ll just be the band to accommodate us in
this task. Although they have a sound that is somewhat similar to a few current
bands and classical genres, their music is from a completely different time and
place. Lullaby for Sue is an exploration into sounds that could very well
date back to the days of Mozart, but also have the same cinematic scope as, say,
Rachel’s or Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Regardless of the comparisons, Clogs is
a very intricate and sophisticated sound for 2003. There are four members in
this New Haven, Connecticut ensemble, all who are classically trained musicians
(duh!). They intertwine passion and angst with such instruments as bassoon,
acoustic guitar, viola, percussion and flute. On occasion, such as in “Gentler
We,” seventies-sounding vocals join in and make you feel as if you’ve purchased
an extremely rare folk-psych record from eBay for $250. The title track,
“Lullaby for Sue,” finds them breaking outside of their mold for a minute or two
to explore more of a post-rock approach. For the most part, however, this is
very traditional sounding classical music. With all the sub-genres of music
floating around these days, maybe Clogs will be the pioneers that will take us
back to the beginning of music. I can already see all the indie kids getting
their 18th century wigs ready for the shows.
1. No. 6
2. Who’s Down Now
3. Turtle Soup
4. Scratched by the Briar Patch
5. No. 4
6. Swarms
7. No. 1
8. Gentler We
9. Lullaby for Sue
10. No. 3
11. Limp Waltz
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