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The Clientele

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London, United Kingdom (1991 – present)

The Clientele are a London-based band with Alasdair MacLean on vocals and guitar, Mark Keen on drums, James Hornsey on bass and Mel Draisey on Keys and Violin.

MacLean and Hornsey began collaborating musically while still in school, after MacLean saw that Hornsey had written the name of the band Felt on his pencil case. The band formed in 1991, with the current lineup along with Innes Phillips, who shared singing and songwriting duties with MacLean. The band recorded an album’s worth of material but failed to get any label interest. Innes left the band (and would go on to found The Relict); the rest of the group re-formed in 1997, and they released a number of singles that were eventually collected on Suburban Light (2000). The Violet Hour (2003) was their first album proper, which again saw great acclaim, but, as yet, little commercial success. August 2005 saw the release of their second full album, Strange Geometry. Draisey joined the band in 2006 just in time for band’s second tour of the States.

The band is more successful in America, where they are signed to Merge Records, home of bands such as Lambchop and Spoon, than in their native Britain.

Their music is noted for its reverb-rich production and MacLean’s distinctive breathy vocals and jangly guitar playing. Their lyrics take a strong inspiration from surrealist literature and art from the early 20th century.

Tagged as:

indie, indie pop, dream pop, british, indie rock
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Strange Geometry
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God Save The Clientele
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The Violet Hour
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Suburban Light
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Top Tracks

1	I Wonder Who We Are	681
2	Harvest Time	592
3	Bonfires on the Heath	513
4	Never Anyone But You	470
5	Share The Night	414
6	Sketch	407
7	Tonight	406
8	I Know I'll See Your Face	383
9	Graven Wood	376
9	Walking in the Park	376
11	Never Saw Them Before	365
12	(I Can't Seem to) Make You Mine	326
13	Since K Got Over Me	308
14	Jennifer And Julia	293
15	Bookshop Casanova	251

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lostintravise wrote:
last week

wow! I'm going to enjoy this! good stuff

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adamzZz wrote:
last month

One of the best bands ever.

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AndreaVolta wrote:
last month

música fina como la que necesito

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Iantastic wrote:
last month

We don't need another Suburban Light. That's what we have Suburban Light for. New album is tops.

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p-u-m-p wrote:
last month

i can't seem to make you mine - can't stop listening to !

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Srhz wrote:
last month

blownaway

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lastfmrolodex wrote:
last month

if you like this band please join: http://www.last.fm/group/riigo%27s+opinions+appreciation+group

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workpath wrote:
last month

Listening to Bonfires on the Heath. First, I love the album art. It's perfect, who's the designer? Second, The Clientele once again earn a place in my heart not many bands do.

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coke_stuff wrote:
last month

what a band

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road_to_ruin wrote:
last month

Even if I don't listen to them very often I have to say that they are one of my favourite bands. I first heard Suburban light and it was a great surprise to hear the new album! Nice with a band that develops and bring in new stuff.

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citizendickorg wrote:
September 2009

The Clientele – Bonfires on the Heath – Album Review http://citizendick.org/2009/09/28/the-clientele-bonfires-on-the-heath-album-review/

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gonzstrokes wrote:
September 2009

Nice new album :B

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darthsketch wrote:
September 2009

Bookshop rock. Love it ^_^

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icedopethblind1 wrote:
September 2009

the new album is phenomenal

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PXNCHOBEAR wrote:
September 2009

<3

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riigo wrote:
September 2009

and the new album...<3

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riigo wrote:
September 2009

indeed, this is the definitive band for fall

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thewaysheposed wrote:
September 2009

fall has arrived : )

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riigo wrote:
September 2009

you keep living in the past

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redefining_form wrote:
September 2009

I guess we're never going to get another Suburban Light-type collection of songs again.

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Videos

Events

Nov 3 Wilco Carling Academy, Leeds, United Kingdom
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Nov 4 Wilco The Forum, London, United Kingdom
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Nov 19 The Clientele The Luminaire, London, United Kingdom
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News

Watch out Britain you're next

6 Nov 2009 | from www.theclientele.co.uk/news/

Bonfires On The Heath will be released in the UK/Europe on November 30th, and in Australia some time in December. And it's already available in the US! buy it here; (UK/Europe preorders available here) Headlining London shows coming up…

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Haunted Weather
5 Nov 2009 | from theclientele.blogspot.com/
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The luminaire and our album launch in the UK
4 Nov 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/theclienteleofficial
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A New York evening of music and laughter with The Clientele's Alasdair MacLean
23 Oct 2009 | from theclientele.blogspot.com/
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Recent Activity

Tallylives and bilazmrzlina added The Clientele to their libraries. 1 hour ago
The Clientele posted a news item ‘Watch out Britain you're next’. yesterday afternoon
almastr1, jimandjuice80, Musiacal and 1 other person added The Clientele to their libraries. yesterday afternoon
The Clientele posted a news item ‘Watch out Britain you're next’. Friday afternoon
dangereuxperson added The Clientele to dangereuxperson’s library. Friday morning
The Clientele posted a news item ‘Haunted Weather’. Thursday evening
Andy-ly and Zilldeal added The Clientele to their libraries. Thursday afternoon
andrzejkakietek tagged The Clientele with indie pop and dream pop. Wednesday evening
mcga0041 added The Clientele to mcga0041’s library. Wednesday evening
The Clientele posted a news item ‘The luminaire and our album launch in the UK’. Wednesday afternoon