ALBUM REVIEW: CLARK - DEATH PEAK

CLARK
DEATH PEAK
Electronic, Ambient Techno.
Warp Records.
Listening Format: Vinyl (mostly) also CD and Digital.














When you think about Warp Records you instantly picture Aphex Twin, Autechre, Boards of Canada and Squarepusher... Boundary pushing Electronic musicians who not only defined Warp, but the entire genre in the 1990s. But once Warp moved into the 00s, some excellent new blood took the forward thinking label to the next level, including Bibio, Battles, Flying Lotus and of course, Christopher Stephen Clark.

Since the start of this century, Clark has been very prolific, releasing an album every two years at least, with many EPs and singles in between. Clark is blessed by not only being a distinctive and innovative composer and producer, but each of his albums are rather different in approach and concept, yet still have that unifying Clark feel and sound.

[SOLILOQUY!] Before I go any further I have a slight gripe that I have with Warp Records. I have been listening to 'Death Peak' on vinyl. Clark's previous record 'The Last Panthers' was about 46 minutes long and perfectly fit onto a single vinyl disc. 'Death Peak' runs at only 43 minutes long, yet has been stretched out over 4 sides of wax! Not only is this so unnecessary, breaking the flow of the album, but they didn't even have the courtesy to make it run at 45RPM for superior sound quality!!! Come on Warp... Why you gotta play me like that??!! [END SOLILOQUY]

Clark's ninth full length 'Death Peak' once again feels like it has a unifying concept running through it. The sounds and ideas try to tell a story without using words or lyrics. It certainly sounds nothing like his underrated previous album, 'The Last Panthers', which delved into Ambient music and live instrumentation, being a score for the BBC TV series of the same name (CHECK IT OUT!) 'Death Peak' is very much drawing back to a synthetic sound, with squelching synthesizers and wonky beats. Though Clark does implement (mostly) female vocals, adding an ethereal, indecipherable sound to many of these tracks. 'Catastrophe Anthem' even adds what sounds like a children's choir between the choppy synth leads. These use of vocals feel like a new tool that Clark is playing with and for the most part they are used in interesting ways and don't detract from the listening experience.

The main problem with 'Death Peak' is that whilst it is full of plenty of varying ideas, it suffers from a lack of interesting cohesion, structural development and most importantly, memorable melodies and hooks. The record really kicks into gear with, 'Butterfly Prowler', lead by this swirling, detuned synth loop that sounds like the listener is being spun around on a waltzer ride. Conceptually very interesting, but on repeat listens the lack of a decent melody in this track actually makes it become more annoying each time I spin this record (which has been about 15 times now on various formats). The two winning tracks for me come directly after. 'Peak Magnetic' is a rollercoaster of peaks and troughs, where the synths and hard beats actually compliment one another, riding in tandem. 'Hoova' is a straight up techno banger which builds into hard arpeggiated synths where the beats wrap around it.

Unfortunately the second half of the record enters less riveting territories. It feels like Clark is really trying to do something innovative, but if also feels like he is throwing paint at the canvas just to see what sticks. Even after many, many listens, very little other than 'Catastrophe Anthem' seems to be remotely memorable to me on this second half of the record (and I don't particularly dig this track). It just feels like an awkward mess with no clear direction. The album concludes on a ten minute long "side length" 'Un U.K.' which is literally ten minutes of nothingness... It feels like scraps of leftover ideas just stuck together with no rhyme or reason, eventually drifting off into a vague hum.

I've honestly enjoyed every single Clark album til now. Even his "Folktronica" effort 'Iradelphic' is an album of his I frequently come back to, despite critics and fans generally considering it his worst effort. Unfortunately for me, 'Death Peak' is the first major disappointment in Clark's wonderful discography. Even though some of his best signatures and trademarks are present, it feels like Clark is actually trying too hard this time around, desperately trying to grab the listener or say something bold, but actually saying very little at all. Ultimately 'Death Peak' is an album that screams in the face of the listener, but what it is trying to scream at me is totally garbled and indecipherable... 6/10.