The Clockworks are a great example of how young bands in the UK can continue to be discovered through singles and get noticed before they end up on billboards. For about three years now, with the help of credible radio presenters like Steve Lamacq and Annie Mac, he has been building a career that has now culminated in his first long player. On “Exit Strategy” Irish school friends James McGregor, Sean Connelly, Damian Greaney and Tom Freeman play music schooled in classic punk rock and Britpop that contains all the magic of the beginning. Singer McGregor wears his heart on his sleeve, the band pushes from song to song, the production avoids any polish.
This music is stormy, but also melodic and has an epic feeling
Right from the start, “Death And Entrances,” a piano riff suggests that something big is about to happen. McGregor walks alone through the city and sings about the loneliness of modern life in Stream of Consciousness. The drums come in drivingly, the guitars build up a tension that is only released in three euphoric indie punk rock songs that follow. This music is stormy, but also melodic and has an epic feeling. Nice to hear, for example, in the closing “Westway”, a fifties song with punk guitars.
The songs on “Exit Strategy” follow various protagonists who have to find their way in the hardships of a big city eaten away by capitalism. Maybe it’s the band themselves who left home for London in 2019 because of their careers. McGregor’s ability to exaggerate the sadness of everyday life into a tangible feeling without disguise and without cold irony is one of the strengths of this album.
The fact that The Clockworks serve classic British values of Britpop and rock in an exciting way can be seen not least in the surrounding staff. The album was produced by Bernard Butler (Suede) at Abbey Road, among others, and will be released by industry legend Alan McGee (Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine, Oasis) on his resurrected Creation label, now called Creation23.