June 22, 2005

Clearlake "Wonder If The Snow Will Settle"

As a stopgap between albums, British pop band Clearlake has compiled the B-sides from 2003's excellent Cedars. The material found on Wonder If The Snow Will Settle isn't particularly bad, but it's understandable why these songs were B-sides. Of the seven songs found here, two are remixes of Cedars songs and one is a remix of a song from their debut Lido. The title track removes the original version's melancholy atmosphere and replaces it with a marching-drum beat; like most remixes, it's interesting, but it doesn't compare to the original version. The same can be said of "Almost the Same" remix as well; where the original version was a fast-paced Britpop song that sped along with a nice rhythm, the remix removes every trace of the original melody and replaces it with a solemn, almost dirge-like arrangement. The other four songs are pretty, but other than a rather good cover of Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl," these tracks are slight, and it's obvious why they were B-Sides. Though not a good representation of Clearlake's greatness, it does serve its purpose, as it whets the appetite for their next album.

--Joseph Kyle

Artist Website: http://www.clearlake.uk.com
Label Website: http://www.dominorecordco.com

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