Comments on: CLARK: Growls Garden (Warp Records) http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/st/2009/03/clark-growls-garden-warp-records/ May cause serious brain stimulation Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:05:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Fred http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/st/2009/03/clark-growls-garden-warp-records/comment-page-1/#comment-3051 Fred Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:23:45 +0000 http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/st/?p=1761#comment-3051 I have to begin by saying that for the past 3 or 4 years, Clark's releases are probably my most anticipated ones. I'm never able to resist the need to download leaked versions but always end up buying the official disc releases from Warp. I will also admit that from listening to Totems Flare's album sampler parts I felt somewhat disappointed – I also got that feeling when listening to Turning Dragon's samples. At the time, it sounded as if Clark was following Jackson and His Computer Band magic tricks – how wrong can one be. Despite all my initial doubts regarding Totems Flare (also promoted by the Growls Garden EP that to me sounded unfocused), I can now say that his producer never ceases to amaze me with the energy, creativity and pure joy his music beams. At a time when Squarepusher and Aphex Twin are trying too hard not to be themselves (probably because they feel Clark has won them at their own game and house), Clark follows their legacy respectfully but with a perspective for the future, pushing boundaries and feeling new and never abstractly experimental just for the sake of sounding dissident and unapproachable. I have long lost the notion of impartiality with his releases because with his album tracks I always get the feeling of “this is it; he has done it again.” It's probably a question of personal sensibility, but to me everything sounds so perfectly tweaked, arranged and designed that I imagine myself hugging the guy and saying “I'm proud of you, kid” - like a dad to his kid after a sports match or a piano interpretation of Ligeti. Totems Flare, being part of a trilogy, follows the same kind of emotional roller coaster narrative proposed by Body Riddle and Turning Dragon. The three albums are clearly divided into two parts: the first being exhilarating, extroverted and in-your face, while the second one tends to be melancholically desperate, almost as if Clark surrenders to a personal and recurring nostalgic intimacy that he explicitly shares – and suffers immensely along the way. The passionate capsule constructed with Talis, Suns of Temper and Absence is now part of a defining moments history book of Warp Records, representing a vivid and life full canvas of what the label has brought to the world of modern music - in the same way the extensive fade out dusty sea of synth grains on The Autumnal Crush finalized Body Riddle and the reverberation of the piano break on Penultimate Persian marked Turning Dragon's sensitive approach to melodic patterns. There is no need to go for a track by track approach when analyzing this album, as everything is arranged, mixed and produced with such genius that my only wish is that somehow Rainbow Voodoo finds some crack on the more mainstream groups and becomes a wider bridge so that people can hear the incomparable elaborated ideas of a musician that deserves all the possible recognition. I'm proud of you, man. Love I have to begin by saying that for the past 3 or 4 years, Clark’s releases are probably my most anticipated ones. I’m never able to resist the need to download leaked versions but always end up buying the official disc releases from Warp. I will also admit that from listening to Totems Flare’s album sampler parts I felt somewhat disappointed – I also got that feeling when listening to Turning Dragon’s samples. At the time, it sounded as if Clark was following Jackson and His Computer Band magic tricks – how wrong can one be.
Despite all my initial doubts regarding Totems Flare (also promoted by the Growls Garden EP that to me sounded unfocused), I can now say that his producer never ceases to amaze me with the energy, creativity and pure joy his music beams. At a time when Squarepusher and Aphex Twin are trying too hard not to be themselves (probably because they feel Clark has won them at their own game and house), Clark follows their legacy respectfully but with a perspective for the future, pushing boundaries and feeling new and never abstractly experimental just for the sake of sounding dissident and unapproachable. I have long lost the notion of impartiality with his releases because with his album tracks I always get the feeling of “this is it; he has done it again.” It’s probably a question of personal sensibility, but to me everything sounds so perfectly tweaked, arranged and designed that I imagine myself hugging the guy and saying “I’m proud of you, kid” – like a dad to his kid after a sports match or a piano interpretation of Ligeti.
Totems Flare, being part of a trilogy, follows the same kind of emotional roller coaster narrative proposed by Body Riddle and Turning Dragon. The three albums are clearly divided into two parts: the first being exhilarating, extroverted and in-your face, while the second one tends to be melancholically desperate, almost as if Clark surrenders to a personal and recurring nostalgic intimacy that he explicitly shares – and suffers immensely along the way. The passionate capsule constructed with Talis, Suns of Temper and Absence is now part of a defining moments history book of Warp Records, representing a vivid and life full canvas of what the label has brought to the world of modern music – in the same way the extensive fade out dusty sea of synth grains on The Autumnal Crush finalized Body Riddle and the reverberation of the piano break on Penultimate Persian marked Turning Dragon’s sensitive approach to melodic patterns.
There is no need to go for a track by track approach when analyzing this album, as everything is arranged, mixed and produced with such genius that my only wish is that somehow Rainbow Voodoo finds some crack on the more mainstream groups and becomes a wider bridge so that people can hear the incomparable elaborated ideas of a musician that deserves all the possible recognition.

I’m proud of you, man.

Love

]]> By: David http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/st/2009/03/clark-growls-garden-warp-records/comment-page-1/#comment-3038 David Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:08:17 +0000 http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/st/?p=1761#comment-3038 Don't forget to check out the album sampler on warp.net, part 1 is available now.. Don’t forget to check out the album sampler on warp.net, part 1 is available now..

]]> By: themilkman http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/st/2009/03/clark-growls-garden-warp-records/comment-page-1/#comment-2980 themilkman Mon, 25 May 2009 23:54:06 +0000 http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/st/?p=1761#comment-2980 It is a pretty tight track, but I think the whole EP really holds up really well. That's what I like about his stuff, somehow his records manage to be pretty consistent and consistantly good, if this make sense. I'm really looking forward to hear the new album. It is a pretty tight track, but I think the whole EP really holds up really well. That’s what I like about his stuff, somehow his records manage to be pretty consistent and consistantly good, if this make sense. I’m really looking forward to hear the new album.

]]> By: David http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/st/2009/03/clark-growls-garden-warp-records/comment-page-1/#comment-2957 David Sat, 23 May 2009 19:01:19 +0000 http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/st/?p=1761#comment-2957 Is it me or is Distant Father Torch an amazing piece? Well ahead of the rest of the EP, it's got the brilliance of Herzog plus those off kilter beats. Perfect Is it me or is Distant Father Torch an amazing piece? Well ahead of the rest of the EP, it’s got the brilliance of Herzog plus those off kilter beats. Perfect

]]> By: themilkman http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/st/2009/03/clark-growls-garden-warp-records/comment-page-1/#comment-2906 themilkman Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:47:08 +0000 http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/st/?p=1761#comment-2906 He's certainly proving to be Warp's best asset at the moment. As you pointed out Nico, he keeps on evolving while maintaining his identity, and he keeps on delivering I think. And, he gets new stuff out on a pretty regular basis, which is really good to see against the likes of Aphex, BoC or Autechre who are much more frugal in their releases. He’s certainly proving to be Warp’s best asset at the moment. As you pointed out Nico, he keeps on evolving while maintaining his identity, and he keeps on delivering I think. And, he gets new stuff out on a pretty regular basis, which is really good to see against the likes of Aphex, BoC or Autechre who are much more frugal in their releases.

]]> By: Nico K http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/st/2009/03/clark-growls-garden-warp-records/comment-page-1/#comment-2903 Nico K Sat, 25 Apr 2009 07:10:54 +0000 http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/st/?p=1761#comment-2903 Absolutely! I just have to agree with my fellow replier. Clark's music is lively, exciting and evolving. Can't wait to hear what he'll take out of his sleeves in the future! Absolutely! I just have to agree with my fellow replier.
Clark’s music is lively, exciting and evolving.
Can’t wait to hear what he’ll take out of his sleeves in the future!

]]> By: rRine http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/st/2009/03/clark-growls-garden-warp-records/comment-page-1/#comment-2817 rRine Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:25:17 +0000 http://www.themilkfactory.co.uk/st/?p=1761#comment-2817 Great review!! I have been following Clark's releases religiously since Clarence Park. Growls Garden is brilliant. Great review!! I have been following Clark’s releases religiously since Clarence Park. Growls Garden is brilliant.

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