What’s the Story with the Knife?
Humphry Clinker
erroneous exegesis

On its quirkily named debut, the five-piece indie pop act Humphry Clinker delivers a grimy, jittery sound that’s as “straight outta Cleveland” as anything released this year. Guided by voices (natch), caffeine, overstimulation and the oblique non sequiturs of lead vocalist Becky Goede, the band is all about the struggle for sonic balance. More often than not, the results are stunning -- with sanguine, garage-y pop moments shattered by Goede’s vocal histrionics.

Goede careens through the band’s melodramatic pop sound like a bull would a china shop - her striking, Karen O homages starkly posing against the warm, savory guitar energy that propels the rest of the band. To wit, it also sounds like a wild sum of its parts. What better name could suit Clinker than that of an Epistolary novel nod? None that easily come to mind.

Clinker’s is an almost effortlessly garage-y sound, one that sounds far more methodical in emphasizing dynamics and contrast than probably was intended. Songs like “Pillow Talk,” “Satan’s Nipple” and “Port Wine” and “Jane's Panties” offer a view of what the 5-car pile up at the GBV intersection of Pere Ubu and the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s might sound like: A lot of sonic peaks and valleys, off-beat observations, that emotionally-charged, late 80s indie-punk chutzpah, and some borderline spoken word. It’s all here, even something that sounds like an uncredited kitchen sink.

Formed by guitarists Ben Morgenstein and John Panza “while on hiatus from other projects,” Humphry Clinker also features Timmy McNulty, David Steiner and Goede. They all bring very different things to this effort, as witnessed on tracks like the whimsical “I Shot Ghandi,” “Pound the Poi for Me,” the leadoff track “Pony Photo” and a jangly number called “Giant Flower” – arguably one of the best in the bunch. I still don’t know what’s up with the knife, but if their debut CD is any indication, I’m curious to see what other cutlery these five are carrying around. In all, a well done, well executed disc. Very edgy. Compelling. Well worth having.

Check out Humphry Clinker as they perform w/the terminals at Now That's Class located at 11213 Detroit Ave. at W 112th. Call the club at 221-8576, or visit them online at http://www.myspace.com/nowthatsclass. Visit Humphry Clinker at http://www.humphryclinker.com.

From Cool Cleveland Managing Editor Peter Chakerian peterATcoolcleveland.com
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