The Clientele "That Night, A Forest Grew"

September 5th marked the physical release of The Clientele's new EP, "That Night, A Forest Grew". The title is lifted from Maurice Sendak's classic children's book, Where the Wild Things Are ("That very night in Max's room a forest grew"). Judging from a reference like that, one might expect this record to fall in line with their more dreamy, hazy signature sound. Yet, the Clientele seem determined to shed the refined sound that they forged in their first few singles and which culminated with their beautiful debut full-length "The Violet Hour". This isn't necessary a bad thing, but for those of us who became addicted to "Hour", it is a little disheartening to see the continual progression away from that sound. While they still remain in comfortable retro-60's territory, this record offers a far more poppy, upbeat, swingin' style. The funky psych-pop number, "Share the Night", (listen at www.myspace.com/theclienteleofficial), is hardly recognizable as The Clientele until MacLean's indisputable vocals chime in with reassuringly familiar lines such as "haunted faces in the street". It's definitely a fun and danceable tune, and it's as hooky as the rest of their catalogue, but it lacks the grace and grandeur of their earlier greats like "Lacewings" and "Missing". Listen for yourself and see what you think. It's sure to gain a new audience, and the record stands alone as a worthy accomplishment, but for a longtime fan, it's still a little disappointing.