Cari Clara

You Better Run

Written by: TL on 18/07/2010 21:53:09

Holy shit guys! Three reviews in a day! It's almost like back in the old days huh!? This one is called "You Better Run" and is a five-track EP from an American five-piece called Cari Clara, who sound so British you would've never guessed they are from Kentucky. Muse and Radiohead come jumping into mind as soon as the opening title track gets going with all it's theatrical atmosphere and lofty nasal vocals, and I'm actually also tempted to throw a Kasabian-reference in there, courtesy of the odd middle-eastern sounding stringwork that underscores the track on occasion.

"Neither Weapon" falls in line with the style neatly, aping Muse's western-soundtrack inspirations, albeit still crawling at a slow, threatening and echoing pace. It's almost enough to make you imagine spurs ringing as two rivalling pistolleros close in on each other. "Our Famed Escape" narrows the soundscape down a bit, and with a more confined mood, the Radiohead reference appears crystal clear. "A Hand To Shape" comes the closest to standing apart, reminding me slightly of some of the darker Ryan Adams material in all its tenderness. On "The Great Departure" however, we're back in the shadow of the three Brit-rock bands.

Now, overall, I don't actually mind Americans looking outside their own country for inspiration for once. The Killers did it with great success on "Hot Fuss", and Cari Clara are doing it with some success here, as their songs have nice intensity and atmosphere to them. That being said, they're not the most memorable of cuts, and they do require some patience, all taking their sweet time at strolling by you at gloomy speeds. As long as Cari Clara insist on keeping things so restrained, I think they're going to fall a length short of the big leagues, but really, it's just a matter of maybe refining the songs a bit more. In any case, I'd say this sounds potent enough to warrant a:

7

Download: A Hand To Shape, You Better Run
For The Fans Of: Muse, Radiohead, Kasabian,
Listen: myspace.com/cariclara

Release Date 07.04.2010
Deep Elm Records

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