Things move slowly and subtly in the world of the Clientele, so it’s not surprising that The Lost Weekend finds the group more or less exactly where it left off on 2001′s Suburban Light singles compilation, sonically and as songwriters. The extra vinyl afforded by the 10″ format gives the songs room to stretch out and breathe a little more than usual, which is nice, and the band even throws in two mood-pieces in the form of found-sound number “Boring Postcard” (think: the subway as heard through the looking glass), and the all-piano “Lost Orders.” More encouraging are the three proper songs here, all of which, though familiar sounding enough — awash in James Hornsey’s fluid bass and Alasdair MacLean’s romanticized, slowed down John Lennon singing — rival in quality anything the Clientele have done. “North School Drive,” with its tasteful touches of quiet piano, is simply pretty; “Emptily Through Holloway,” which boasts a gorgeous rising, whispered melody, transcends such a description; and the last number, “Kelvin Parade,” though not on the same level as the first two, holds up the second side well enough. This is about as good as a 10″ can possibly be, so it’s hard not to want more. – Steve May
more »