CLT DRP - ‘Nothing Clever, Just Feelings’ review
CLT DRP by Libby Malandrone
CLT DRP is the act of Venn Records Roster right now. Today releasing their new album Nothing Clever, Just Feelings, we had a chance to listen to it before it dropped and here are our thoughts:
Nothing Clever, Just Feelings cover
We’re already familiar with the first three tracks “New Boy”, “Nothing Clever, Just Feelings” and “I See My Body Through You”, which all dropped as singles. As an opening to the album, this trio sets things off with an absolute shot. “New Boy” is a sprint through emotional turmoil about sexuality and being able to afford to get by. This is also a track about mental health that gets spliced down the middle with an excellent electronic breakdown. “Nothing Clever, Just Feelings” is a pulsing, confrontational other side of that coin - Annie Dorrett's vocals have a distinct sound that cements the number. This is a perfect fit as the title track to lead the charge for a new CLT DRP album.
The final single, “I See My Body Through You” again, presents us with a different side of the Brighton trio. One of the shorter tracks on the album, Dorret’s performance is more coarse, and Scott’s guitar dropping in lathers it in intensity.
There is a lot of versatility on show in the first quarter of this LP. “Desire/ 1 on 1” bungee jumps between a dancey rave track of catchy electronic fills with a punk edge to it. This registered to me as the strongest performance from both Annie as well as Daphne on drums. This is a much more acidic, blunt track, and is so unlike a lot of what is on the scene today.
Obviously, for an album centred on the relationship someone has with themself, “M.U.T.M” is a raunchy but honest account of the moments of self-love. We still have all the album's key themes in some form as well, touching on physicality, image, and relationships. The repeated lyric "I've got a lot of time for forgiveness" keeps things interlaced with something greater at play, but halts it for that moment.
One thing Nothing Clever, Just Feelings does in droves is blend styles between songs. The best case of this is at the album's midpoint “Cake 4 The Women”. Seeming at first like it's going to carry on with the vibe of “M.U.T.M” stylistically, before bursting into an angrier bop. It's worth noting that “Cake” and the two tracks to follow have been popping up in live sets throughout 2023. The first of those is 'Only One', which is a brooding and personal track, with brief explosions of a shock rock edge. “Daily Affirmations” seems to be the tied-first song off this album to feature live as well as the title track. This had to have been my personal favourite track on the album. Brimming with attitude, bass-heavy, and unapologetic about both, this track is an anthem. Lyrically, this covers everything we'd been 'drp-fed' (had to) in the lead-up to release.
A direct follow-on from “Daily Affirmations”, “The Door” lets us breathe for a moment. Having an instrumental track here seems like it may be an odd choice for Electro-Punks like CLT DRP, but it's not so. Simple guitar work after a song like “Daily Affirmations” helped solidify personal aspects I found important in this album. It also gives way to a sense of melancholy during “Easier Than This”. This is the first time in all the personal subject matter that CLT DRP seems world-weary in any sense of the phrase. Annie's vocals here are excellent. As a penultimate track it's not all that complex, and it didn't need to be. Where the previous track made for melancholy, “I Put My Baby To Sleep” rises back out of it with a sense of finality. The distortion and tinny drums in the track are excellent. The end of “Easier Than This” through into “I Put My Baby To Sleep” breaks down in a way that would make Nine Inch Nails smile.
As a package, Nothing Clever, Just Feelings does what it says on the tin. The title seems almost tongue in cheek given how much it delves into. This is a great, personal album that covers a lot in a short amount of time. I'll say it again, CLT DRP is the act of Venn Records Roster right now (and they are noisy bastards).
Nothing Clever, Just Feelings from CLT DRP is out today via Venn Records and available on all good streaming platforms. CLT DRP are also on tour through October & November including dates with Tokky Horror and Man on Man.
Nothing Clever, Just Feelings release tour
08.09.23 - Brighton, Green Door Store
15.09.23 - Sofia, BG - Wrong Fest
12.10.23 - Manchester, Beyond The Music
02.11.23 - Leeds, Oporto
03.11.23 - Glasgow, Hug & Pint
23.11.23 - Southampton, Joiners
24.11.23 - Bristol, Rough Trade
29.11.23 - London, Lexington