the Clockwork Flowers

“THE TIME”
Mike Pinder’s (The Moody Blues) Songwars Songwiting Conpetition 2011
Semi-Finalist Award Certificate - Songwars

“TAKE OFF”
Mike Pinder’s (The Moody Blues) Songwars Songwiting Conpetition 2011
Honorable Mention Award Certificate - Songwars

“TAKE OFF”
Mike Pinder’s (The Moody Blues) Songwars Songwiting Conpetition 2011
Honorable Mention Award Certificate - Songwars

“GOOD MORNING, LORD KITCHENER”
Mike Pinder’s (The Moody Blues) Songwars Songwiting Conpetition 2011
Honorable Mention Award Certificate - Songwars

“HERE WE GO ROUND AVEBURY”
Mike Pinder’s (The Moody Blues) Songwars Songwiting Conpetition 2010
Semi-Finalist Award Certificate - Songwars

Arriving in Tokyo after a decade spent meditating in the Himalayas, Londoners John & Anthea Bliss have returned to civilization with a bang. The White Stripes would kill to be as cool, or as English, as The Clockwork Flowers. Okay, there are obvious signs of this duo's an unabashed tendency for Beatles homage here - a structurally critical hook lifted from "And I Love Her", cryptic "Fool On The Hill" allusions and even a Revolver-drawn backwards guitar solo - yet "Autumn Afternoon" is not just a cap doffed in memory of the Fab Four. There's more to it than that. There's an odd, kinetic breeziness throughout "Autumn Afternoon", and lead singer John Bliss delivers his unpredictable, brilliant lines on an even weirder level of otherworldliness than was achieved by Lennon when, during his solo period, he infamously demanded of producers that they excessively alter his voice with effects. At times it sounds as though he's singing underwater. J.P. and I were of the opinion that 'Autumn Afternoon" could do with being remastered, but the raw materials and composition are simply awesome. Bongos, real handclaps (!), organ, strings. This song makes me very happy. So thanks, Clockwork FLowers.

Written by Jonti Davies (Editor) - Japanzine (Carter Witt Media)

A compilation of Beatles covers? I thought Oasis had been doing just that for the past 15 years? No matter, because it's the execution of this self-released attempt from The Clockwork Flowers that makes it a bit of marvel. "Glass Onion" (one of the best White Album cuts imo) gets new impetus with rearranged guitar thrashes and now culminates in an elephant stampede with the help of some "Tibetan religious instruments" - this always gets my two-year-old son stomping his feet.

Elsewhere new licks spruce up "Dear Prudence" very nicely, "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds" is all floaty with cushions of extra reverb, "The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill" goes on and keeps gaining momentum until you've got bungalows on the brain for the next fortnight... and you're going to need a brolly for the Clockies' take on "Rain" (complete with some mad stammer-flange effect on John's voice).

Versions of songs such as "Norwegian Wood" and "I'm Only Sleeping" are moored slightly closer to the originals, but they've still been given a whole lotta love - and the production, no matter where you point your ears, is always interesting. And that's Flashback: by Beatles fans for Beatles fan, a bit different, and altogether rather lovely. All of which makes it remarkable (factor in Japan's undying love for the Fab Four) that no label has yet picked up this album for a proper local release. Note to all label chiefs: check The Clockwork Flowers at Gaijin Sounds Live on September 18th!

Written by Jonti Davies (Editor) - Japanzine (Carter Witt Media)