Ismael Clark - Let Me Introduce You To Ismael Clark
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| Ismael Clark - Let Me Introduce You To Ismael Clark |
These days, everyone seems so
slick with the way they communicate and even unsigned bands send out Electronic
Press Kits with links to their video biography and a documentary of that time
they went quad biking with Damon Hill. So, to get an email from a musician that
says, in no uncertain terms, "please review my music but if you don't like
then please don't publish it" is refreshingly honest and I am a sucker for
that in the music industry these days. Needless to say, the fact that you're
reading this means that Catalan import Ismael Clark is right up my musical
street.
'So Loud So Low' opens this five
track collection with a mixture of Jose Gonzalez, Johnny Cash and Bruce
Springsteen but not a hint of a Spanish accent. Following straight after is the
country blues stomp of 'I Still Owe You A Duel' which is a great song title for
starters but is also great little acoustic fuelled romped that James Morrison
would love to have thought up. My favourite track on this collection comes,
oddly, smack bang in the middle in the shape of 'And God Rained The Quail'
which has a circular, almost flamenco style riff smothered in impassioned and
passionate vocals that are themselves dripping in smoke, liquor and experience.
The darkly jaunty lilt of 'Golden Calf' should be used to soundtrack the
opening of a film depicting a contract killer getting up on the morning and
going through his normal routine before embarking on a day's killing. And lastly,
but not leastly (yes it's a word), we
have the gentle piano waltz of 'Funes', yet again featuring the dusky,
seductive tones of Mr Clark. Ismael has an original sound and a variety of
styles within just five songs that most artists don't achieve in a whole album
so I look forward to hearing more from our new Spanish neighbour.