Getaway

iTunes Review

Fans of New Zealand’s prolific and quirky indie music scene recognize The Clean not only as an essential component of it all, but as the seed: the legendary Flying Nun record label sprouted from the band’s one-of-a-kind “Tally Ho!” single back in 1981. The Clean’s long career to date has consisted of various singles, EPs and only a handful of albums, recorded in between stretches of down-time where band members pursued other projects (most notably, Robert Scott formed The Bats, brothers Hamish and David Kilgour formed The Great Unwashed, and David Kilgour has released a number of beautiful solo records).  Getaway emerged quietly in 2001 and may be the band's best album to date, full of charming and folky psychedelic pop, replete with David Kilgour’s whooshing, jangling guitars, warm, shimmering percussion, tinkling pianos, and the wistful and sometimes shy vocals of both Kilgour and Scott. In a perfect world, “Stars,” “Golden Crown,” and especially “E Motel” would be singles on the car radio.  Guests Ira Kaplan and Georgia Hubley (Yo La Tengo) are perfect bedfellows on the moody “Circle Canyon” and “Alpine Madness,” and hints of Can are easily heard on “Twilight Agency” and “Aho.” The collection ends with the roaring “Complications,” which is quintessential Clean, recalling the days of “Tally Ho!” and “Boodle Boodle Boodle.” Fans, rejoice!