I was expecting ‘Victim of a Casual Thing’, the debut album from Birmingham band The Clause to be good, as I’m sure a lot of people were, but fuck me, this is one hell of a good record.
The album opens with ‘Prologue’ and blends into ‘Nothing’s as it Seems’ which kicks us right into the album, hitting like the life and soul of the party has just walked in. If you’ve been fortunate enough to witness this band live, then you’ll no doubt appreciate it just has.
Anthems ‘I Don’t Care’ and ‘In My Element’ sound better than ever. What are the odds that the iconic ‘In My Element’ guitar riff is getting kids thrown out of guitar shops in the not-too-distant future?
‘Pink Moon’ showcases Pearce Macca’s voice in a way the band’s material seldom does; the soaring ballad, complete with its mandolins, is the album’s tender moment.
’Don’t Blink’ brings the record to a close, and I have to admit to being a little disappointed when it didn’t come back in and all kick off, my only criticism of the record is that it ended too soon!
From the all too brief opener ‘Prologue’ to the instantly familiar closing bars of ‘Don’t Blink’ this record is as near perfect a British guitar record as it’s possible to make. Sonically, the warmth and saturation of the record is second to none, musically it’s an enlivening amalgamation of everything Pearce, Johnny, Niall and Liam have ever heard, be that consciously or subconsciously… there’s 80’s pop vibes aplenty, clear 2000’s indie input in tracks such as ‘Elisha’ and ‘White Lifelines’ but then the track ’Tell Me What You Want’ even evolves into a Motorhead-esque romp for its reprise.
Lyrically, the songs are of hedonistic nights out, mornings of regret, missed opportunities, missed girls, self-doubt and that ever-engulfing chasm between teenage carefree abandon and the happy (or not so) ever after. Pearce may not be the only frontman writing about this, but he is certainly one of the most eloquent.
I’ve no doubt detractors will point to the number of already released tracks in the way they often do, throwing the usual comments, but let’s be honest, that’s a reflection of the industry, not the bands. So make no mistake, as an album, this is a superb piece of work; as a debut album, well, it is staggeringly good and stands aside any British guitar band’s debut album. To my mind, this could well be the best debut album by a British guitar band since The La’s eponymous beauty from 1990. It is simply that good!
And finally, as if giving us such a perfect debut album wasn’t enough reason to love The Clause, they’ve only gone and done a BOGOFF special and announced they’re taking The Kairos on their forthcoming tour. The UKs two best young guitar bands for the price of one… what’s not to like?
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