Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Some Loud Thunder
[Wichita]

Remember when The Killers mania took over speakers and the minds of indie tykes the world over and catchy, yet meaningless anthems were the order of the day? People who wanted a bit more than that, a bit of depth, fuzziness, eccentricity, obliqueness, but a band that still retains an appreciation of song-building craft, found saviours in the self-titled release from this Brooklyn based 5 troupe.

This follow up, relaxes the gushing frivolity to implant a moodier vein, but the raw base of Alec Ounsworth’s almost yokel vocals and a quirkily assorted backing range is still prevalent. Sticking out early on in the yearning country/blues bolstered ‘Emily Jean Stock’, also featuring bracing atmospheric gushes to keep the quirkiness trickling along. A painstaking shadow follows full length offering around, as the darkness thickens in ‘Mama Won’t You Keep Them Castles In The Air Burning’ and underlines the main deviation from their sound base.

Lead single ‘Satan Said Dance’, leaps out at you with its digital intonations, scampering bass beats and pouncing piano kick that leads into the laid back, yet worrisome vocal toe of Ounsworth. This represents Clap Your Hands Say Yeah at their most eclectic, with the disco feel being shrouded in reflection and mystery. The challenge in songs like this and ‘Yankee Go Home’, is well and truly set for the multi-taskers out there, who think they may be able to gyrate nimbly and also have a moment of reflection.

Those just in the mood for tender reflection will appreciate the nostalgic ‘Goodbye To Mother And The Cove’ and the slow blues stroke of ‘Arm and Hammer’ that sees a longing echo, trail Ounsworth’s touch to give matters some authenticity and honesty. The jangling philosphical ballad style of ‘Underworld (You And Me)’, harnesses emotional power and uses it to portray the solitude of feelings of romantic escapism.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah are establishing a reputation for broadness, as they clearly bring every emotion, piece of instrumental nouse and song-building instinct to the table when they record an album. It maybe an old fashioned approach, but it clearly still works.

Track Listing:

01. Some Loud Thunder
02. Emily Jean Stock
03. Mama, Won't You Keep Them Castles in the Air and Burning?
04. Love Song No. 7
05. Satan Said Dance
06. Upon Encountering the Crippled Elephant
07. Goodbye to Mother and the Cove
08. Arm and Hammer
09. Yankee Go Home
10. Underwater (You and Me)
11. Five Easy Pieces