Canadian band Clear bewitches and soothes on new album
(Published: September 18, 2011)

September 17, 2011 (Ontario, Canada) Written by Robert Sutton. Clear is the plaintive voice of Sue Johnson, which flows like crystal-blue liquid. Clear is the guitar work of Christian Patterson, each string like the strand of a spider's web. And Clear is the name of the band that bewitches and soothes on Never Falling Again, a sublime collection of lover's lament confessions built upon a foundation of folk, jazz, and adult rock.

Clear is a group that can actually fit into a number of different genres but the eclectic roots at their core is stitched together by the warm chemistry between Johnson and Patterson. They complement one another well, at times plumbing the depths of emotional fragility with a unified ache. On the title track, Johnson's icy delivery is echoed by Patterson's chilled-out guitar playing. There is a subtle beauty to their performances that carries a somber weight; the overall effect is intimate and quietly powerful.

Johnson's soulful vocals on "Saddest Words" are stunning; the melancholy in her singing feels real, revealing wounds that are further bruised by the swirling, haunting cello of Ken Kanwisher. However, Never Falling Again is never a depressing experience despite the dejected sentiments it contains. Johnson's voice takes a dreamy turn on "If Only I Could," and Patterson's sparkling, summer-afternoon guitars cast a light on the darkness. One of the best tracks is "Doesn't Really Matter," which finds the band flirting with Brazilian jazz as Johnson offers her most playful singing and Kanwisher's bass throbs like a happily beating heart.

The group may not be easy to classify but their knack for crafting poignant and gorgeously embellished songs is something that can be effortlessly seen; that much is Clear.

More Information: http://www.reverbnation.com/clearmusicband

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