Slightest Clue and the dazzling alt rock immediacy of "Carousel"

 

"Pull the veil off of my eyes stand alone in the room with you / Felt frail in this disguise the hardest thing is to tell the truth / There's nothing left to say the apple falls down bruised / No I'm not satisfied something's wrong nothing's new..."

The art rockian, hybridized, jazz / proto punk fusions of "Carousel", the title track of Vancouver’s surprising alt-rock outfit Slightest Clue, surprises / dazzles / amps me up so much and as someone who is supposedly a wordsmith has me staring at my computer screen with my mouth agape. From the onset, this beautifully inspired track is hard for me to describe. The vocal melodies and the way rhythm guitarist Malcolm Mclaren and bassist Hannah Kruse trade them off in what might feel like a heated conversation might be the kind of thing done during a stage play although it doesn't come off as musical theater here. The amazing lead guitar shapes by Sean Ries somewhere between Brian May, Bill Nelson and Pat Metheny don't feel typically post rock or classic rock but artfully twisted 'something else' and Nick Sciarretta's shuffling, pummeling drum work with Kruse's bass work serves the hybridized styles perfectly as connective sonic tissue. 

"Carousel" and Slightest Clue cut a unique swathe among the musical landscape and I must say I absolutely love the un-predictability of the song / band and things like the sudden shift from absolute full throttle power to a blissful quiet (like at 2.58 in) when Mclaren alone, voice and acoustic give off 90's Radiohead vibes has my brain buzzing. It's the musical gems like Slightest Clue that make me grateful to still be a music blogger even though those like me might be considered irrelevant in the indie journalistic zeitgeist of 2024. 

[As I scream inside the car suddenly I feel more control
Realizing how fucked you are can make you feel less alone
What's the point in prayer when wishes don't come true?
No I'm not satisfied nothing's wrong nothing's new

Pulled off the highway
So take my hand
Just to cry "happy birthday"
For one last dance
I hated your worst days
I'll let you down for the last time
But I loved you]

-Robb Donker Curtius    

THE FACTS AS WE KNOW THEM 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KlsPb31tYyGZGJt4FUaWP

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ_wNLHJhjXQ6_gStpbyt9w

https://slightestclue.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/slightestclue/

https://www.tiktok.com/@slightestclue

https://www.facebook.com/SlightestClueBand/


Vancouver-based band mixing pretty jazz chords with loud and dynamic song structures that lean into pop appeal. Focusing on catchy hooks and sticking straight to the point.

Slightest Clue, Vancouver based alt rockers, indie rock, post punk, jazz rock, hybridized music, alternative music, alt pop prowess, tight musicality, new EP "Carousel",