Klammer "The Day Before Yesterday" Album review by Dave@Cyderbaby
The Day Before Yesterday is an amazing soundtrack of its genre, it is uniquely pitched that every player in this band has an integral story to tell. This is way past Post-Punk and is more progressive than I’ve heard in a very long time. I can see why this band has a huge, loyal following.
No doubt I will search them out to see live one day, but until then I will happily play this album in the weeks and months ahead.
Klammer "The Day Before Yesterday" Album review by Steve White of The Punk Site
Maintaining their unmistakable blend of punk, post punk, gothic rock that merges edgy guitar hooks, dark bass lines and catchy drum beats all underpinning ominously dark, brooding vocals ‘The Day Before Yesterday’ is, to these ears, their strongest album yet. Perhaps it’s spending two years under the cloud of a pandemic or the possible upcoming complete change in the new world order that are weaving their gloomy thoughts into the sounds. Whatever it is ‘The Day Before Yesterday’ slowly wraps you in it’s caustic cloak forcing you to sit and contemplate many of the things going wrong in this messed up world.
Covering a vast array of distinctly topical but by no means uplifting topics ‘The Day Before Yesterday’ deals with anything and everything from the potential shitstorm of lying in the hope that it’ll make things better – ‘I Really Really Want To Believe’, the need to get really angry with those that claim they are leading us to a better future without waking up to the actual facts – Progress (or The Lack Of) and more. This is what Klammer do. Falsely cheerful, throwaway pop they most certainly are not. Klammer match perfectly the tones and mood of their music to whichever daunting aspect of everyday life they’re dealing with. Ominous drum beat and haunting guitars introduce ‘Broken Dreams In A Crashing Car’ and it’s tales of anxiety, frustration, and fear before everything erupts into slashing guitars, pounding drums and it’s yell of “failing brakes no stopping place”.
Now for some old style post-punk, ‘Broken Dreams In A Crashing Car’ is the latest release from post-punk band Klammer. And before I go on, that song title, could you get any more post-punk than that?
Now post-punk comes in many shades and for this there’s something of a Siouxsie and the Banshees thing going on. There’s those scything guitars and that frantic drumming of The Banshees in their early-ish days – the time when the blueprint for Goth was being established. It also comes with a nod to ‘Heroes’ period Bowie; not in ‘let’s copy it’ but they take that feel into their song.
But there’s more to this; there’s a kind of fast/slow thing going on, verses slow, chorus fast. And boy do those choruses soar. Over this the vocals declaim, we are talking vocals with power and richness.
This is one of those tracks that rewards repeated and closer listening. At first it sounds fairly simple sonically but then you start to notice the details. That drumming has this wonderful halting feel in the slow sections. The bass isn’t quite as simple as you initially thought. And that the guitar carries a melody line throughout the track. And all of this adds a richness and depth.
Klammer may hark back to the ‘way back then’ post-punk but they mess with it, they bring in different things. They re-energise it. And I love them for that. ‘Broken Dreams In A Crashing Car’ is a compelling example of the Klammer way. Post-punk joy to the max.
Klammer "I Don't Know What It Is" Single Review by Frank Roper of Local Sound Focus (04/10/20)
First some information. This single is released as part of the Yesterday’s Not Here Project – a project to celebrate the work of Pete Shelley, and a fundraiser to raise money for the Memorial Fund that is being set up. In December an album of covers of Pete’s music (where he either wrote the words or music) will be released digitally.
So what have Klammer done with this song (from the ‘Homospaien’ album)? Well they’ve turned what was a kind of rave-y electronica and Klammerirised it. I can think of no other way of putting it. It’s kind of punky post-punk – in a way it reminds me of Sisters of Mercy. It’s doomy and dark guitars, with soaring vocals and a pounding beat.
But it doesn’t entirely lose the feel of the original. The original has something of a post-punk feel – think New Order – it’s just that it’s electronica. I can hear the original in Klammers’ version, even though it may sound completely different. They’ve taken something that’s there in the original, but only a hint of it, and magnified it, They’ve taken that as a starting point. And it’s clever musically to do that. This may raise the thought with you that it’s an exercise in musical cleverness. It isn’t because there’s a feel in the track that says they ‘mean this’, there’s heart and soul. It’s a tribute to the song done in their way, their own frankly fantastic way.
This, like the original, is a song to dance to, to lose yourself in the beat. To get hot and sweaty to, and that’s an order.
Visit Local Sound Focus HERE And also visit HERE for more details on the project.
Klammer - Invitation Only Gig - The Rehearsal Rooms - Huddersfield 2020
Live Review by Kevin Stevens for Refections of Darkness Music Magazine
"... Set two was a trip into the unknown, they hadn’t shared any details with me on the direction of the new material - was it the KLAMMER I know and love? Or had they pushed the boundaries? As the first chords hit my ears I am pleased to tell you the KLAMMER sound and vibe is still intact! However after listening to the twelve new tracks, still in a (late) stage of development, its plain to hear that the band have shifted into new territory without leaving the KLAMMER sound behind. It’s still got the raw edge and the energy that they have managed to drag kicking and screaming alongside them - but somehow sounds more “grown up”.
Full Review HERE
Here's what the critics are saying about the new single "Being Boiled"
"Look this is not ‘just’ a cover, it’s an interpretation, something that works, it works brilliantly"
"Full of hooks, driving energy, the unmistakeable vocals of Poss and a relentless guitar drenched mid-section courtesy of Steve Whitfield. As for covering another bands song and making it fit perfectly into the often hellish state of todays modern world Klammer have done a faultless job."
...and the album "You Have Been Processed"
Matthew MacDermant KJAG Radio Kansas, USA
"Rising stars in British alternative music... If you are a fan of Joy Division, The Damned, The Stranglers, Bauhaus, David Bowie, or any of the post-punk and alt-rock early classics, you’ll absolutely love Klammer’s new album “You Have Been Processed..."
"...Highly recommended listening; this is already one of my favourites of 2018..."
"...almost like a Rorschach’s test of musical allusion..."
"...pace, power, precision and a dose of post-punk attitude..."
"...This a collection of songs without any fillers, it’s all good, it’s all incredibly good..."
"...Get ‘You Have Been Processed’ on your hit list, sharpish..."
"Many claim KLAMMER are the hottest UK post-punk offering in many years"
"SPIRAL GIRL" 7 inch Single & Download Reviews:
LOUDER THAN WAR:
"....Previously described as the love child of XTC and Gang Of Four, Klammer offer an enticing twist on the post-punk attitude, blending in elements of goth rock, punk rock and dark wave, all with dark pop sensibilities..."
(Paul Scott-Bates)
Full Review at Louder Than War 11 July, 2018
LOCAL SOUND FOCUS:
"...This song from KLAMMER is gloriously wonderful, it’s epic, it’s huge. It’s engaging in a ‘sit down and listen to it’ way, and if you’re in the mood for dancing it’ll get you going absolutely crazy in seconds. I, for one, need stuff like this in my life..."
(Frank Roper)
“Modern God” by Klammer Reviews:
LOUDER THAN WAR:
"This new single from Leeds-based post-punk quartet Klammer... it’s great melodic punk and there is an undercurrent of edginess and intrigue which makes you want to listen to more..."
Full Review at Louder Than War Magazine May 10th 2018
ROCK REGENERATION:
""...It can only be a matter of time before Klammer are heard on a wider scale...."
Full Review at (Rock Regeneration) April 23rd, 2018