Par For The Curse. Clown Sounds

First there were songs that needed the right context. Next there was a project and finally it all came together as a band. Enter Clown Sounds and its album Par For The Curse. The fivesome is Todd Congelliere, Jimmy Felix, Jacob Gaxiola, Isaac Thotz and Trevor Rounesville. A band with two drummers no less.

Clown Sounds puts in the energy in its songs that come closest to punk(rock), with some garage rock influences for good measures. This band is not about playing the cleanest and neatest, nor about making it to the church choir. This is all about finding the right feel for the songs. So 'It Do Matter' can have a 1960s feel like a song that could have been on the 'Nuggets' compilation. Going from small to huge in one song. In other songs the punk prevails.

Congelliere sings with a bit of a whine in his voice, making the songs sound dirtier because of it. It gives them a I-don't-care-what-you-think attitude, with a direct impact on the listener. Like The Clash the band moves into a reggae punk vibe in 'Beyond Control' next, showing how diverse the album is. In the meantime I start noticing how tight the songs are in a very loose way. The rhythm is far tighter than the overall feel of the album seems to suggest. 'Nice Try, Again' has this call response rhythm guitars showing exactly what I'm writing here.

What it shows, is that all the men in Clown Sounds have some mileage to their playing. They have played in (punk) bands for years. Experience taught them that to make an impression, songs do not need to last long. When something has been said, it is done as well. Time for the next song, no time to waste. We can always take a breather after the show. Two minutes is already a long time for many of the songs on the album.

The more surprising is the final song that runs for nearly 5.30 minutes. Par For The Curse goes out with a song of epic proportions no less. It comes with a surprise, as it does a Status Quo for you. That 'Whatever You Want' or 'Roll Over Lay Down' rhythm is there alright. 'The Landing Pad' makes for a huge ending to Par For The Curse.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

You can listen to and order Par For The Curse here:

https://recessrecords.bandcamp.com/album/par-for-the-curse