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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, indie rock, british
See more…

1	Bookshop Casanova	270
2	Since K Got Over Me	244
3	(I Can't Seem to) Make You Mine	230
3	My Own Face Inside the Trees	230
5	Here Comes the Phantom	160
6	E.M.P.T.Y.	151
7	K	144
7	Impossible full track	144
9	I Hope I Know You	135
10	The Dance of the Hours	134
11	Reflections After Jane	132
12	From Brighton Beach to Santa Monica	129
13	Winter on Victoria Street	127
14	Step Into the Light	126
15	The Queen of Seville	122

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gonzstrokes wrote:
Sunday afternoon

Love them <3

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acedrums wrote:
Friday afternoon

they were pretty good supporting Fleet Foxes. Didnt think they were anything special but it was nice, maybe they need more time.

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riigo wrote:
last month

ah, good, good, hope they'll stop by on tour then

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dollygay wrote:
last month

waka waka!

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coke_stuff wrote:
last month

new album 's out on october,9

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placebo_molko wrote:
last month

i've heard them before but didn't pay attention, now i'm listening "share the night" and i like it, good stuff, i'll listen something again.

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samanthaaajane wrote:
last month

Their lyrics are pure art. Always listen to them when I'm lacking a little direction, need to relate, need some inspiration and a little shove.

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malkmuss wrote:
last month

their music fits perfectly in rainy or cloudy days.

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foolishwolf wrote:
May 2009

foggy, rainy, sad day music... the best kind

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claudiajones wrote:
May 2009

what is it with this band and WEDNESDAYS (...and RAIN of course ;) Suburban Light, yeah!

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riigo wrote:
April 2009

vvv this.

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fat_fleshy_fingers wrote:
March 2009

pre-strange geometry clientele is best clientele

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MisterGlock wrote:
March 2009

Vocals reminiscent of the Beatles?

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estevemcqueen wrote:
March 2009

Visca The Clientele!!!

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kida86 wrote:
March 2009

no comment...

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andover wrote:
March 2009

troll fail.

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swedepop wrote:
March 2009

I've been listening to this band since 03, and I am just commenting now. hah Well, they are a great band. Also, They are very neat to see live and mel is lovely. :)

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Just_a_Dreamer_ wrote:
February 2009

(I Can't Seem To) Make You Mine, saddest song ever... still, I love it

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riigo wrote:
February 2009

this music makes me think of sad things

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strangegeometry wrote:
January 2009

join the forum... www.theclienteleforum.co.uk - we need some new members!

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Videos

Events

Jul 19 The Clientele Music Hall of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY, New York, United States
Add shout | 14 attendees
Jul 22 XX Merge Cat's Cradle, Carrboro NC, United States
19 shouts | 52 attendees

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Recent Activity

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