The Clientele

The Clientele are a three piece who formed in Hampshire in 1997, initially through a love of Cardinal, Felt, Galaxie 500, Television, Love and The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band. Later the influence of 70s AM radio songwriters like Jimmy Webb or Mickey Newbury made itself clear, along with a dual interest in minimalist arrangements and jazz chords and rhythms. They have been described as sounding as if they are beaming in from a long-wave radio on a late lonely night.

Following a move to London in 1998, The Clientele set about releasing 7-inch singles through different labels in UK, Spain, Japan and USA, and then compiled these to produce the eloquent, soft-focus beauty of their debut album "Suburban Light" released on Pointy Records in November 2000 and later licensed to Merge Records for release in USA where the band has enjoyed sell out tours across the country.

Their next album "The Violet Hour" was recorded through the summer and autumn of 2002 and released the following summer. It wa described by Uncut Magazine as one of the most magical pop albums of 2003.