For a couple of years now, my friend Sam and I have referred to Exit Clov (much to their chagrin, I’m sure) by the nickname “the cutest band on earth.” We mean it as nothing but complimentary. Here are the reasons for our dubbing:
1) The band is headed by not one, but TWO multi-talented and incredibly cute TWIN SISTERS, Susan and Emily Hsu, who play like a million instruments between them (or at least: keyboard, violin, and guitar) and sing in sweet (cute) 2-part harmony.
2) Their music is cute—poppy, playful, new wave—without being cloying; there’s a hearty slice of rebellion in the lyrics, which are just as likely to comment on overseas politics as the spoils of hometown DC. Cute is a dish best served intelligibly. Or something.
No, but seriously, this band is awesome. And most likely on the brink of their first major breakthrough. A fixture on the DC scene for more than half a decade now, Exit Clov have spent years tweaking their sound and playing shows…and have finally released their debut album, the delightfully sweet (and deliciously rowdy), Memento Mori.
From the first notes of first single “Strippers and politicians”, this album breathes sensuality and vivacity: clip-clop percussion meets passionate strings and vocals so airy they’re liable to float away. From there, it’s an emotional and sometimes volatile journey through 11 tracks, steeped in passion, darkness, moving piano lines, frantic, pulsing beats and images of foreboding.
“District menagerie” is a standout track, with intimate vocals and sweet, Postal Service-esque beats, while “The hate” is stormy and seductively menacing. The album ends on a soft note, with delicate ballads “Death is a song” (both alluring and heart-breaking) and “Ritchie Valenz” (like the climax in a romantic comedy.)
And while an Exit Clov break is welcome anytime, I particularly like listening to this album while slumped over my desk at work—the sensual vocals whisk me away to a faraway world—and the angst-y lyrics make me feel like I’m subtly rebelling against the man (even as I stare blankly at a computer screen.) Did I mention that Exit Clov is the cutest band on earth? Now that’s a combination I can get behind.
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Exit Clov "MK Ultra" from Joe Brener on Vimeo.
