REVIEW: His Clancyness - Vicious

His Clancyness is Jonathan Clancy.  A native Canadian and current resident of Bologna, he was raised in both Canada and Italy.  His past recordings have been solo affairs, but Vicious, his current release, was recorded with accompanying musicians Paul Pieretto and Jacopo Borazzo.  I've given the release more than a few spins, and my verdict is that all involved should be proud of their work.  The general category probably is psychedelic pop (with a decided nod to the Nuggets series), but Clancy ably adds elements from glam, classic rock and California guitar pop.  There is plenty of hooks and jangle, and it is invariably melodic.  But from time to time the band flexes true rock muscle, and some the song structures allow for a bit of an extended jam.  Thematically, there is a toughness, even viciousness.  Apparently, that attitude doesn't reflect Clancy's approach to life so much as his need to work through his inability to be that hard in his life.  So the songs work as catharsis for the author, while the fans can bask in the warmth of the music.  That is a compromise I'll gladly take when the music is this enjoyable.

You can test drive Vicious via tracks "Progress" and "Zenith Diamond" below.





Vicious is out today via FatCat Records.  Clancy is touring this fall with a full band - Clancy plus Giulia Mazza (synths / keyboards / noise boxes / vocals / percussion), Emanuela Drei (bass, sampler, vocals) and Jacopo Borazzo (drums / percussion).  The remaining tour dates are as follows:
10/10 – Astoria, Turin, IT
10/12 – Ligera, Milan, IT
10/17 – Circolo Degli Artisti, Rome, IT
10/18 – Always Never again @ B-Side, Cosenza, IT
11/6 – BBC Introducing presents @ Oakford Social, Reading, UK
11/7 – Clwb Ifor Bac, Cardiff, UK
11/9 – Start The Bus, Bristol, UK (supporting No Joy)
11/10 – Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar, Brighton, UK
11/12 – Fallow, Manchester, UK
11/14 – Broadcast, Glasgow, UK
11/15 – Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds, UK
11/16 – Hare and Hounds, Birmingham, UK
11/22 – The Lexington, London, UK
11/26 – Espace B, Paris, FR


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