Exit ClovTitle: Respond RespondLabel: live wire recordsGenre: Indie, Pop, RocReleased: October 10, 2006Rating: * * * 1/2
It’s easy to dismiss a band fronted by two Asian twins who can’t be older than 16 and play violins, and it starts to become a little weird when you realize they are supported on bass, guitar and drums by three twenty-something white dudes. But what sounds like a recipe for disaster turns out surprisingly sweet on Exit Clov’s Oct. 10 release, an EP titled Respond Respond.
Five darling tracks full of dueling violins and guitars and syrupy-sweet vocals with even cuter song names like “Moving Gaza” and “Communist BBQ” fill the EP.
But wait, why are two very young-looking twin Asian girls singing about very grownup things like Communism and politics? Then you realize that Exit Clov cannot be dismissed as dumb bubblegum pop; these girls know what they are talking about and they know how to make music to accompany it.
Smart, witty lyrics over downright danceable drum and bass beats and elegant violins make for easy listening, shown on songs like “DIY” and “Beast Simone.” The girls sing in perfect harmony throughout the album, shown especially on tracks “Violent Berries” and “MK Ultra.”
Mixing a variety of influences such as ’80s bands like Blondie and contemporaries like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Strokes, Exit Clov is a unique band worth checking out.