The Clauberg Opera - The Death of This City By Steve Rudd

Yet another fantastically original Hull-based band to get hugely excited about, this young and thoroughly refreshing trio is not to be ignored... especially not with the type of manifesto that they are proudly presenting. In this invigorating instance they come armed with five tracks that are spread over half an hour's worth of quality playing time. Inspired and influenced, seemingly, by everything that they have ever collectively listened to (citing the music of bands as coolly diverse as Metallica, The Smiths and Grandaddy as having had an effect on them in its own way), The Clauberg Opera aren't like your average rock band. No, no.

These guys have also been moved to emulate many of the standards that the Dogme movement in cinema has embraced. For example, they are determined not to let themselves as performers ever to be regarded as being more important than the art they are so passionately producing, and one way they do this is by attempting to remain semi-anonymous. Yes, in Slipknot style they mask their faces (to an extent) with bandannas.

Oh, and all three band members have adopted stage-names too - with J Mayhem (on guitars, intermittent vocals, keyboards and samples), Cidney Sorry (on drums, intermittent vocals, keyboards and samples) and Von (who provides the crucial bass grooves) assuming their respective positions.

Another thing: Each instrument is treated as an unlimited creative tool. Just as it should be, and such a concept is evident through all their instrumental-orientated songs, especially in their Winterkill masterpiece where the lo-fi-styled drum and guitar interplay works a monumental treat.

Not a band to do anything by halves, their 10-minute epic in The Coming of The Waters literally takes your breath away, metaphorically smothering the listener if they aren't careful to come back down to reality. Subtly engrossing and moodily captivating in style, the guitar melody-based atmosphere conjures up some deep and dark emotions that are rarely encountered in music made by other bands, a fact that further marks The Clauberg Opera way out from the crowd... from any peers that they potentially have in and around Hull.

As for their EP-closing Sky Obscured By Mist track, this boldly incorporates some samples and a beautifully-conceived song structure that bears much in common with the genius of Mogwai and their uniquely exhilarating music. This CD was recorded live, and the band openly admits that the resultant sound is imperfect, harsh and trashy.

It's meant to be this way, because in this way they believe their music to be all the more honest and exciting through being so on-the-spur and spontaneous.

Whoever these guys really are, they are alleged to have been playing together (in musical circles) since they were nine years old. And boy, are they now in a band to watch - and a band clearly to savour. For a band of this caliber comes around but once in a blue moon. 5/5 Check them out via their website at www.theclaubergopera.com

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