Clayhill

[BadCoverVersion]

Anybody familiar with Shane Meadows' film work will surely have heard a Clayhill track. They feature on both the Romeo Brass and Dead Man's Shoes soundtracks amongst others and they also appear and sing the awesome titular track of the quirky Shane Meadows short "Northern Soul". I'm really loving them lately following the release of their mini-album "Cuban Green" and their debut album "Small Circle"...both simple, beautiful records from beginning to end. I shall also be going to see them perform at The Troubadour in London next week.



The songs have a fragile melancholic quality to them, all gorgeous twangy strings and husky, pained tones. The singer - Gavin Clark, formerly of Sunhouse - sounds like a softer Springsteen. If you're a fan of Iron & Wine, Nick Drake, Elliot Smith or the like...then I'd recommend these lads without even a hint of hesitation.

There are MP3's available over at their OFFICIAL SITE...I advise you to suck 'em and see. It doesn't cost a penny after all.

Here's a few recent reviews, they should give you an indication of what the band is all about;


"Rarely does a song arrive that is so riddled with despair and self-loathing - and in this case it's all the better for it.
Moon I Hide sublimely relates persevering with a relationship, while all the time knowing things will never be perfect - "Lovers give way to the fear that the years might grind them to dust, I'm not afraid to be taught, but I've often thought that I might be crushed..." Gavin Clark's despairing vocals and a sparse acoustic line building into a string-laden crescendo make for a searing cocktail. Paired with a gorgeous cover of The Smiths' Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want that manages to be more pained than the original, this is a powerful and wonderful release. - Manchester Music

"Summoning up no less a ghost than that of Bruce Springsteen at his most desolate and aching heart, this is uncommonly frial and lovely, even if in parts, vocalist ("and occasional guitarist") Gavin Clark sounds as if he's trying with some discomfort to pass a landmine. An English American Music Club, which is already quite a confusing notion." - NME Recommended Single 02/03/05

"Thank fuck for this record! It's life affirming and bloody well necessary amongst the tide of dreary indistinguishable dross that is heaped upon music lovers. This is a masterful and bittersweet album, shot through with enough soul to conjure images of " Moondance"-era Van Morrison. Hearfelt, understated, disarming, elegiac, melody-laden litinanies to northern souls. Indie(whatever that is) at it's most essential. **** (4/5)" - The Fly

"Following a gorgeous mini-album earlier in the year, this triumvirate of Red Snapper's Ali Friend, Ted Barnes (Beth Orton's co writer) and the amazingly heartfelt vocalist Gavin Clark (who fronted the sadly missed Sunhouse), gel soul and acoustic sounds to create a gentle and understated tapestry, which at the same time documents yearning and loss. **** (4/5)" - The Independent (The Information)

"Clayhill's first mini-album "Cuban Green" suggested that mind-altering super skunk is as essential to their aural as early Verve records and acoustic guitars.
Debut album proper "Small Circle is a progression. It's fucked off it's tits and debating a trip to the all night garage.
It's a beautiful, gorgeously rustic recording, a fragile unison of The Beta Band's folk-rock quirk and the cocky swagger of the Stone Roses...but slow real slow. While the gentle patter of "Even Though" (with it's tender cello lead refrain cradled by singer Gavin Clark's grizzled croon) might sound horrifying to your average lip-chewing speedfreak, to the rest of us it's a hit of blissed-out sonic snugness." - NME

"If the harmony laden, crisply acoustic "Figure of Eight" is a marker, this summer's full-length debut should be something". **** (4/5) - Uncut

"This six-track mini-album announces the arrival of a new trio, comprising Gavin Clark, Red Snapper’s Ali Friend and the sometime Beth Orton co-writer Ted Barnes. The sum of the parts is unlike any of these bands, but is also thoroughly engrossing complex and twisted soul-folk. A nice taster for their forthcoming album." - The Independent (The Eye)

"Promising debut mini-album from Gavin Clark, Ali Friend and Beth Orton-collaborator Ted Barnes. Half a dozen acoustically driven tracks, underscored by melancholic strings and brass." - The Observer Music Monthly

"Warm, gently narcotic collection of graceful and tasteful slow burners whose atmospherics are utterly overwhelming ... this heralds the arrival of a very special band" - LOGO ONLINE

"It's like popping a fruit pastille in your mouth, then suddenly being forced at knife point to stop chewing" - BUNKER

"If there's any justice, Clayhill's finely honed songwriting skills and textural strengths will finally drag them out of the darkness of the past" - WHISPERIN & HOLLERIN

Have fun!

[Psychocandy]

Will check out. Will report back. Sounds intriguing.

[BadCoverVersion]

Now this is an extraordinary live band. Simply put, they sound absolutely IMMENSE!

The band embrace so many musical styles its hard to truly 'define' them, there are drums, cello, geetars, trumpet, keyboards and this fucking BEAUTIFUL voice to marry it altogether. The lead singer Gavin Clark is truly mesmerising. He wore a powder blue shirt, V-neck jumper and blazer last night and kept his hands firmly in his pockets throughout...it was all just so chic and effortless.

Song highlights,

Cuban Green
Moon I Hide
End Refrain
Figure Of Eight
Grasscutter

The Troubadour is a beautiful little 50's coffee house in the heart of Chelsea, 'The Club' is a dingy cellar below...it holds about 50, and my partner and I were sat about 10ft away from the tiny stage. We supped half pints of lager and smoked many fags...bliss!!!







Lovely and intimate...we even got the opportunity to say hello to the band after the gig.

Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Van Morrison, Paul Simon and Bob Dylan all played there during the 60's.

[kinkyfriedman]

No, I havent-- maybe I should check it out