Press

Not since the late Great Mutant Skywheel has such a detectably educated assembly of talented musicians provided an entertainment factor commensurate with the impressive pedigree... redolent of Stereolab, Lamb, and Mono, with comparably crisp hi-fi (truthfully, the entire production here is beyond reproach, remarkably by the band itself) ... when the twins switch off the synths and open those violin cases, they may as well conceal tommy guns.

Stone Scruggs
Music Monthly
05.27.05


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OnTap Magazine | January 2005

OnTap Magazine

January 2005

by Joel Sparks


Some bands are defined by a gimmick or easy hook. Others struggle to overcome one. Exit Clov, the darkly melodic D.C. post-rock act, is both blessed and burdened by the fact that talented frontwomen Emily and Susan Hsu are twin sisters-and beautiful, at that. Every article about the group starts with some form of that fairly straightforward biological fact. But there's a lot more to be said. Exit Clov is a sort of super-group, built from the Hsu's one-time folksy duo, plus drummer John Thayer and bassist Brett Niederman (former rhythm section of The Sneeks), plus slick guitarist Aaron Leeder of Adoption Agency. Together, they make five confident performers blending indie-rock guitar, girl-group harmonies, and nervous beats into lilting, rhythmical, minor-key jams. You could call this music "pop"-and it is pop, sweet and appealing-it's just that under that surface, the tone is so neurotic. You could call this "rock"-and it is rock, built on a solid foundation of bass and drums-it's just that on top of that groove, it's so pretty. The combination has won Exit Clov a WAMMIE nomination for Best New Artist. Maybe the secret is to enjoy both the sweet surface and the complex core at the same time, a split-minded post-modern stance that should fit right in with the songs on Exit Clov's new album.


© 2005 Exit Clov, all rights reserved