Exit Clov - Respond Respond

Genre rock Publisher Livewire Recordings External Links Official Exit Clov Website Official Livewire Recordings Website

Aside from Ace of Base and Abba, pop appeals very little to me. Wait, that is the opening sentence from my thesis on Swedish music - never mind.

On Exit Clov's third release, however, the Respond Respond EP immediately appealed to me. I thought to myself, "Ok, we have two female singers, a pop structure and a sound that was innovative enough to meld everything together." And yes, they are better than Ace of Base and Abba...in theory.

The tracks are a hodge-podge of instruments, including your standard guitar/bass/drums but also synthesizers and even a violin. The two vocalists Susan and Emily's voices mirror well together (with out stepping on each other), resulting in a style that is not necessarily harmonized as much as it is unified. Every song is relatively upbeat, with punchy rhythms and tight-lipped drums typically preceding looser, shakier and fuzzier choruses. The only reason this band might be called "indie" is because their music isn't boring.

While this band may not align with my pop-rock(ish) tastes (I tend to be a purist, sticking with Costello and...Abba, I guess), you can't deny that this is a polished little EP by a band that seems to know what they are doing. Better yet, they seem to have a good direction to go in. Did they see the sign?