On first listen, Clap for Daylight’s debut album ‘Break Even’ reminds me of an elliptical mix of Bare Naked Ladies and Keane. A little bit of the laid back, casual funness of BNL, but also very edgy and sharp with more than a little darkness to it especially as you get into the album. It opens with the song, ‘Get Down’, which is a very funky piano heavy song with a catchy chorus that literally enforces the ‘getting down’ policy. Although the album has dark moments, it is good because the sun always shines on the darkness and they always bring it back up to a feeling of general hopefulness and goodness. Many of the songs are inspiring and high flying, but always down to earth and just face real world scenarios if you listen to the lyrics.
Honestly, the album is great. The band steps out of bounds often, crossing over into emotions that people are oft to deny. The band is not afraid to tackle the issues of evil, as can be easily read in the track ‘the Good and Evil Inside’, although it is hardly one of the darkest tracks on the LP.
What draws me to the band is the feeling of family that they provide. The band is obviously very comfortable with each other, and complement each other very well. The guitars and keyboards mesh in interesting ways, creating mechanical rhythms that interact like pistons on an engine. It gets even better when everyone is playing at once because of the lush harmony that they create. Amazing choruses and a great sense of rhythm give this band a professional and unique sensibility that is sure to lift your spirit. The vocalist is so entranced in the music that his true voice shines through the web of melody and harmony and gives a center of gravity to the entire ensemble.
The lyrics are at times deeply metaphorical and at times just simple, referring to regular days and things that happen to all people. The writer obviously has a philosophical slant, but always keeps the theme understandable. This is what makes the band so appealing. Their sense of solidity with a good link to the realm of imagination gives them exactly what a band needs, something to distract your from your worries and help you remember the things that are important in life. Check this album out on iTunes and Amazon, and visit their myspace for songs and upcoming shows at http://www.myspace.com/clapfordaylight, while their website is being constructed.
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