Amazon.co.uk Review
The self-titled debut from Clor might not be quite what you'd expect from an outfit formed from members of Roots Manuva's live band, but this album is anything but a disappointment. Taking inspiration from the angular electronic post-punk of mid-period Devo, the pure techno pulse of Kraftwerk, and the enigmatic wordplay of Pavement, Clor is adventurous, original and unusually, for such experimentally-tinged albums, almost criminally tuneful.

Kicking off with the excellent "Good Stuff", singer-guitarist Barry Dobbin immediately nails his eccentric colours to the mast, singing about sucking up poison "though a curly straw" over metronomic beats and neat stabs of guitar. Interestingly, Clor seldom turn to that old chestnut of rock, the distortion pedal: "Love + Pain" is so clean the melody veritably sparkles, while "Dangerzone" slows things down and spaces out, like a 21st Century remake of Kraftwerk’s spartan "Radioactivity". Meanwhile, on "Hearts On Fire", they pull that trick that few but the Super Furry Animals can successfully pull off, morphing from rock song to techno workout with such eminent skill you can barely see the join. A remarkable debut. --Louis Patterson

CD Description
'Clor' is the debut album from the London-based band of thesame name. Combining bizarre lyrical references with elements of punk-funk and indie, the album is a mish-mash of musical patterns and references that will appeal to fans of The Rapture and Beck. Includes the singles 'Love + Pain' and 'Outlines'.

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Customer Reviews

13 Reviews

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.4 out of 5 stars (13 customer reviews)

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well I liked it, 4 Sep 2005

By	"josh___" - See all my reviews

After seeing the live show, and loving the two singles (LOVE + PAIN and OUTLINES), I thought it would be worth getting the album. I had some doubts that the live sound would work on record, but Clor have obviously realised this and have adapted the songs to fit.
And it's a cracker of an album! Although the band have pop sensibility and excellent song writing talent (think fall and early devo), the upbeat keyboard-based tunes, sparse use of guitars and mostly electronic drums will not appeal to everyone. If your taste in music is a little quirky then the album might be perfect for you. Clor obviously have alot of good ideas, but instead of dwelling on them, each song is over in a 3 minute blur, even the album's masterpiece (Garden of Love) is only about three and a half minutes.

Chances are, if you've liked any of the singles (the third single GOOD STUFF is going to be released soon) then you'll like the album.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Packed with would be hits in an 80s style; impossibly good!, 2 Sep 2005

By	Danny Neill (UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

With Live8 romanticising the musical summer of twenty years ago, Duran Duran playing stadiums, 'Hit Me Baby One More Time', those funny uber-mullets that suddenly loads of blokes are wearing (not me, no chance!) and now this; 2005 really has been the year of that most unexpected of revivals, an eighties one! Totally uncalled for too if you ask me, speaking as someone who can well remember that painful decade, it was rubbish and the music was, by and large, dire (straits).

None of that should reflect badly on Clor though. Their debut starts at the place Blur left off with 'Trouble In The Message Centre', injecting that Numanoid template with so many pop hooks and lyrical songs that even the most die hard eighties detractor will surely be won over. Singer Barry and guitarist Luke (formerly DJ's at the eclectic Bad Bunny club night in Soho) aren't just mere electro-pop boffins though, they've clearly indulged in some Can, Eno, Roxy Music and there's probably the odd BBC Radiophonic Workshop album in their DJ box too! It's all tastefully thrown into their melting pot of pop madness. The opening trio alone ('Good Stuff','Outlines','Love + Pain') are each would be or actual singles that could easily spark a resurgence of interest in The Human League and Sparks. This is one of those amazing first albums where the band arrives out of nowhere already fully formed, great things surely await!

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Team Clor, 22 Aug 2005

By A Customer

Clor are really a wicked new band to have managed to break through. So many new bands at the moment are producing non-original stuff that sounds boring and done before, this band are fresh and new with all the old cool influences! I think the music is quite technically intellectual, and i have seen them live and they can play it all tighter and more on it than the alubm! it really is a cd you have for your music collection, these guys are gonna be huge!!! p.s dangerzone is my favourite.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars CLOR ....hello goodbye
Im gobsmacked...........I heard tracks on this Album on the Clor myspace site........the music is stunning, rivetting in its power and drive Barry Dobbins voice is one in a... Read more

Published on 14 Jun 2006 by the activator

5.0 out of 5 stars a musical breath of fresh air
with all the overhyping and re-invention of 'retro' music, it would be easy to put Clor in the same box as Razorlight, The Killers et al. Read more

Published on 28 Sep 2005

4.0 out of 5 stars Enough "Little Miracles" to keep the punters happy
One thing for sure, it's never boring. Occasionally infuriating in the way some tracks promise more than they deliver. Read more

Published on 11 Sep 2005 by russell clarke

4.0 out of 5 stars Packed with would be pop hits in an 80s style!
With Live8 romanticising the musical summer of twenty years ago, Duran Duran playing stadiums, 'Hit Me Baby One More Time', those funny uber-mullets that suddenly loads of blokes... Read more

Published on 6 Sep 2005 by Danny Neill

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Brilliant
Its a breath of fresh air, something that really is different without being obscure and nonsense. The album recalls days of Visage/Sparks and classic Depeche Mode with a slight... Read more

Published on 20 Aug 2005 by D. Harris

3.0 out of 5 stars Little miracles
This line, from one of the strongest tracks on the album, 'Dangerzone' says a lot about Clor's sound. Read more

Published on 18 Aug 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars Deserve to be big
I bought the Clor album after hearing the Love + Pain EP and I was not at all disappointed. It is interesting, innovative and different enough to stand out from the current retro,... Read more

Published on 13 Aug 2005 by planetqueen1977

3.0 out of 5 stars Try Before You Buy
If at all possible I'd recommend having a good listen if you can before buying. For every moment of brilliance here (and there are several) there is the annoying and irritating... Read more

Published on 12 Aug 2005

5.0 out of 5 stars It's just the tunes
I've read endless reviews of this record which witter about the incongrous styles involved. It's been variously called art-rock, techno, electronica, pop. Read more

Published on 10 Aug 2005 by ddrseibu

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Sublime
Reccomended to me from a friend and I must say what a top album!! What stands out most to me was the cool keyboard sounds. Definatly worth the purchase!!

Published on 29 Jul 2005 by kelly raymond

› See all 13 customer reviews...

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