Alex Clare

Album: ‘The Lateness of the Hour‘
Year: 2011

As I mentioned a while back, I’m a sucker for music from ads and from TV and movies. I sought out this album after I heard “Up All Night” as the opening theme of the short-lived Doctor Who spin-off Class and, as it happens so often, it found its way onto a running mix. What I didn’t know was that this album also housed Clare’s dubstep track “Too Close” that was used in an … ugh … Internet Explorer ad. But don’t let that scare you away.

This album shouldn’t be defined by these two songs, though. It’s a soft pop record at its heart filled with love, soul, tenderness, and some troubadour sensibilities that come through tracks that, quite often, are over-produced. I would love to hear a stripped-down or acoustic version of this album to really find its heart.

Track of Distinction: “Hands Are Clever” is a great blend of Clare’s soul and electronic sides making it one of the more balanced tracks on the album.