There comes a point in the life of the aging music obsessive when, despite concerted efforts to “stay relevant,” the forthcoming album release that excites you most isn’t by an experimental reggaeton crew from Chile but a British rock trio of moderate bores who once soundtracked your most painful high-school break-up. Resisting this is absolutely pointless, so please get excited about this with me: The. Clientele. Are. Back. The band have just announced that their seventh studio LP, titled Music for the Age of Miracles, is going to stream down upon us from on-high on September 22 courtesy of their old pals Merge— and not only THAT: but they have also shared a lyric video for a brand new number, “Lunar Days,” to help ease the wait.
The comeback was sparked by a rekindling of an old friendship, when The Clientele’s chief songwriter Alasdair MacLean ran into former collaborator Anthony Harmer. One thing leading to another, and the two started jamming again. Harmer, who is an accomplished Santoor (Iranian version of the dulcimer) player, eventually contributed string and brass arrangements, as well as guitars, vocals, keyboards, and saz to Music for the Age of Miracles.
In case you don’t remember (or are only like eight years old), The Clientele’s previous full-length, Bonfires on the Heath, came out in 2009. It was followed by the mini album Minotaur a year later, a best-of compilation, and reissues of Suburban Light and Strange Geometry — the albums largely responsible for the group’s reputation as a cult aughts/zeros/two-thousands act. (And, to be fair, McLean hasn’t exactly been squandering his days locked in his apartment with a Dominos pizza and a Playstation 4: he’s released two records with partner Lupe Núñez-Fernández (as Amor de Días), and has become a father.)
Watch the lyrics video for “Lunar Days” below, and then (you guessed it) check out the cover art, full album tracklist, and the Clientele’s upcoming tour dates in support of the comeback LP — all down below. And c’mon, admit it: you’re excited too, right?)
Music for the Age of Miracles tracklisting:
01. The Neighbour
02. Lyra in April
03. Lunar Days
04. Falling Asleep
05. Everything You See Tonight Is Different From Itself
06. Lyra in October
07. Everyone You Meet
08. The Circus
09. Constellations Echo Lanes
10. The Museum of Fog
11. North Circular Days
12. The Age of Miracles
The Clientele on tour:
09.22.17 - London, UK - Oslo
10.31.17 - Toronto, ON - Great Hall
11.02.17 - Washington, DC - Rock & Roll Hotel
11.03.17 - Philadelphia, PA - Boot & Saddle
11.04.17 - Boston, MA - The Sinclair
11.05.17 - Brooklyn, NY - The Bell House
11.07.17 - Chicago, IL - Subterranean
11.09.17 - Seattle, WA - Neumos
11.10.17 - Portland, OR - Mississippi Studios
11.12.17 - San Francisco, CA - The Chapel
11.14.17 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom
More about: The Clientele
