Following some success with ‘God Save The Clientele’, particularly in America, The Clientele have returned to the mysterious dreamlike melancholy found on their early records.
‘Bonfires On The Heath’ adds to this with elements of experimentalism, such as the jazzy ‘Share The Night’ with its haunting trumpet, and ‘Sketch’, which features a rather cluttered spoken word piece over soaring grunge guitars.
Still, fans of this endearing band needn’t be alarmed, for there are plenty of typical catchy hooks, clever guitar playing, and the ever present rich and surreal vocals of Alasdair MacLean to keep the momentum going and deliver an introspective and moody record.
6/10
Words by Stephen Maughan
