The Clear Spots

This split CD-R is one of those releases received toward the tale end of '06 but not fully digested till now. Niagara Falls, huh? Got some nerve naming yourselves after that raging natural wonder, but then maybe these Pennsylvania natives are onto something. There is a gorgeous shimmer in these cascading waterfalls that refracts its tonal light fragments in every direction at once. . . .

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We’ve showed our love to the Clear Spots before and despite the fact that I initially found myself a bit surprised by the sound of the sprawling Electricity for All (Deep Water) the main content of such love declaration is not likely to change anytime soon. . . .

Click here and scroll down to read full review at Broken Face

One of the things I love about noise is that even though the best is often made with non-traditional sounds, instruments, and processes, great noise can also be coaxed out of standard implements like guitar riffs and drum beats. Just ask Bardo Pond, Marble Sheep, Sonic Youth, Sun City Girls, Pussy Galore/Royal Trux, the Dead C., etc etc etc - pile up some chords until they blur into noise, or break them in half so oozing feedback pours out; stumble through some lopsided rhtyhms or puncture the air with epileptic beats; rip your lungs into the red or drool into the mic until it shorts, and you can make stuff that still kinda sounds like rock into really fucking great noise.

The Clear Spots know this as well as their forefathers listed above, and their three albums so far are all nice examples of how rock's better when it's busted, bloody, and spilling. . . .

Click here and scroll down to read full review at Noiseweek

Interview

(from introduction): Pennsylvania's Clear Spots might be the best kept secret in the Northeast, though I don't imagine that's necessarily by choice. This trio makes some of the best psychedelic-tinged music around. Innovative songs that pound your skull into dust, all the while retaining a melodic nature that keeps you coming back for more. . . .

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Review of Mansion in the Sky

"Mansion in the Sky" is an absolute delight. I knew The Clear Spots were good, but I didn't know they were this good. It's not just that it sounds good, but it feels good too. This is the kind of music that once you scratch the surface and find yourself fully entrenched, you'll let it suck you dry before letting go. . . .

Hard on the heels of their debut 'Mountain Rock' (reviewed by the Terrascope in November), brothers Adam Bugaj (drums), Matt Bugaj (guitar), and Kevin Moist (guitar) evolve their sound somewhat on 'Mansions in the Sky', albeit in stripped down trio format (brother Tom Bugaj, drummer 'Mountain Rock' does not appear here). The first thing to note is the wonderful cover photograph. It's quite easy to imagine that the featured barn was where this series of metallographic sound worlds was created, and the alarming lean of the barn the result of some extreme sound pressure level transgressions performed during these sessions/rites/cook-outs. Even so, this time out, the Clear Spots are perhaps more restrained, more spacious and more structured than on their debut (but not too much). . .

When reviewing Mountain Rock, the debut CD-R from the Clear Spots I described the music as raw and ragged, but I also noted that they choose to slow things down in a way that makes the untamed guitars and the general sense of improvisation, the aural chaos and the beds of rustic noise sound surprisingly beautiful. This is even more case on the follow-up which still finds its base in tangles of melting feedback, squealing guitar work and blaring epic noise but at the same time blows all these components apart in every direction. . . .

Click here and scroll down to read full review at Broken Face