ALBUM REVIEW: The Clamor – The Clamor
THE CLAMOR is the latest punk project from Aaron Louis. Many of us might be unaware of Louis’ long discography of producer credits when it comes to film, theatre and music, or indeed the fact that he serves as the director to the Museum Of Modern Art, as well as being a former member of punk band DANDELION WINE. So, with all that experience and love of all things to do with art and music it’s fair to expect a record that refuses to sit in one box – and those expectations are certainly met with this self-titled effort.
As the album opens with Cardiac Soundtrack, Louis greets the listener with a distorted intro that gradually transitions into a style that is quite upbeat. The focus in this track is more on the instruments instead of the vocals, yet it remains fun all the same. And that’s the thing with this album, whilst the vocals are certainly an integral part, the idea is that one can pay attention to the instruments and the different styles that they delve into.
Looking at a song like Nerve And Vein, there are elements that bring genres like jazz, funk, and Motown to mind in a way that just makes you want to dance along, but then towards the end you are even reminded of ska. This is also the case in the track Bell The Cat, which once again relies on a jazz style and overall is the type of music you might expect to hear at a family barbecue. And there’s also even a whimsical pop moment during final track Love & Criminals that’s tied together nicely with a pretty chorus of voices.
Despite moments like these, it can be easy to zone out and perhaps not realise that record has moved onto the next song. Granted, it’s not an unpleasant experience as the tracks do remain enjoyable to listen to, but it’s still not ideal for a listener’s focus to drift. But overall, THE CLAMOR’s first outing is positive and what we have before us is a fun alternative rock record. Admittedly, despite the range in styles, it’s not the most stand-out record that you’ll hear all year, nor is it something that’s completely new and innovative, but regardless, it’s an enjoyable album to listen to.
Rating: 7/10
The Clamor is out now via self-release.
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