Alex Clegg - We Have Not Enjoyed Ourselves
After seeing his compelling and intimate show in York’s The Artspace last year, the few but enthusiastic spectators would do well to ask themselves what has happened to the guitar-wielding and enigmatic Alex Clegg. The answer is a short but seamless album that is every bit as interesting as the show itself. Each song tells a short, bizarre story with eloquent and evocative language – “I never wanted to incur the wrath of the noble local villagers, to lay with you in your palace forever,” or “you feel just like a diamond in a sack.”
Sometimes the album’s recording sounds like it could do with a more polished production, but the raw feel often adds considerable immediate impact. The use of trombones in the opening songs, ‘Elephant God’ and ‘Watchdogs,’ is utterly arresting: its gospel-like power contrasts strikingly with the gentle singing and elegantly surreal lyrics.
The rest of the songs are more sombre, but not for this less delightful. Ranging from the Lou Reed-esque ‘Spiders and Bears’ to the soft, retro feel of the duet in ‘Nature Reserve,’ the album is vibrant, varied and creative. Don’t be fooled by the gloomy-sounding title, We Have Not Enjoyed Ourselves, is an exciting, promising creation by a captivating singer-songwriter.
