SOTD #103 // Thee Single Spy: ‘In Clay, In Cloud’

14 July 2010, 17:48 | Written by Ian Greenhill

(Tracks)

For a place as overpowering, intimidating and isolating as London it seems to produce its fair share of happy, fuzzy pop songs. When I hear songs written about sunshine, hot girls and no worries I can’t help but feel that it is so calculated, flippant, redundant as it really doesn’t have anything to do with London, or Britain, for that matter. Where is the misery? Where is the realism? The answer is Thee Single Spy.

The 5-piece have woven a brooding lament, ‘In Clay, In Cloud’, which fuses together the melancholic and the contemplative. Lead-singer Alex Mattison’s rich baritone range has an elusive haunting quality that combines the best part of Nick Cave and Jeff Mangum. ‘In Clay, In Cloud’ is slow in pace, yet quick in effect as the hum of organ and screech of guitar has enough to enthral the easily distracted listener. Modestly unassuming, miserable and wearing an honest heart on its sleeve, the previously unsung London has just been sung.

Thee Single Spy: ‘In Clay, In Cloud’

Taken from the 7″ single ‘Ok Corral’, released via Robot Elephant on 9 August.