Music Arcades: The Clientele: Bonfires on the Heath

When this album came out in the US, it was accompanied by rumours that it might be The Clientele's last, bringing first this non-denial from Alasdair Maclean:

Q: I've read that this might be your last album… can you tell me more about why you feel like this might be the way you want to say farewell? Did God not hear your call? Can The Clientele not be saved?

A: God maintained his long silence I'm afraid.

The likelihood that this was down to the indifference of the Great Record-Buying Public made me sad. But in this radio interview last month, Alasdair clarified that, if the band did split, it would be down to him "not necessarily [having] more ideas of these kind of songs", and that he didn't want The Clientele just to repeat themselves (relevant passage runs from just after five minutes until just before seven minutes in). Ah, OK, creative integrity. That seems like a good reason for the band to split, and it made me happy.

Also in the American media, there's this fascinating account of some of the things that went into the album. You know how I love music that comes with a scent to inspire further foraging — musical, virtual or physical. All of these are catered for, including the physical, since one of the inspirations is Dulwich Wood, less than two miles from our door. Not that I've actually got there yet: it's not on any of our bus routes, and a 30-40 minute walk is longer than The Boy will tolerate in his pushchair, let alone on foot!

Easier to put down roots at my desk as I check out the other portraits made of flowers and fruit by Giuseppe Arcimboldo and the lace patterns of Federico Vinciolo, both originating from the back end of the 16th century. (I was clearly completely wrong in detecting dispute over the cover, by the way.)

All of these help mark out Bonfires as a work unto itself; to sit down with and listen from beginning to end — as I did on Sunday morning, with nothing to distract me except the lyric booklet. I noticed the high count of songs mentioning "eeriness" (yes, two — bet you can't name an album with more), along with ghosts and a phantom, again.

Still, I couldn't get away from the feeling, reinforced at the ICA eleven days ago, that there are only two and half great songs here. Meanwhile, others, like Jennifer and Julia, continue the form of turning the sweetness dial up to 11, making me wonder if perhaps this might be the right place to call a halt after all.

But, no, that was a false alarm: it turns out The Clientele have since recorded and mixed a new EP or mini-album. But it's got to the point now where they're on the shortlist, which means that, as long as they keep making them, I'll keep buying. And that shortlist is getting shorter: it's not just James that have dropped off it; I don't even have January's new Magnetic Fields album yet.