Backinhumanform is the creative machinations of West Ireland’s Joe Clarke. Based in London, he released his self-titled debut album in late 2019. The album is available on Clarke’s Bandcamp page.
Throughout, Clarke imparts a striking amount of melody and elite level orchestration for a DIY project. ‘Slippin’ Away’ floats along like a lost Beach Boys classic. Meanwhile, ‘On The Road’ is a shoo-in for poignant Peaky Blinders scenes in the next series. Confrontational and built upon 60s pastiche, it builds upon the early work of Brian Jonestown Massacre and the sun-drenched psyche of Cosmic Rough Riders and The Beta Band.
Steve Mason’s influence looms large and often on this record. Vocally and atmospherically, Clarke is able to summon the majesty of the Edinburgh legend.
It is though, on ‘Half Light’ and ‘Ships’ where Clarke threatens to eclipse Mason. The former, with the nuggets of the Cocteau Twins and The Engineers shimmers like a crisp moonlit sky. IT drifts into a state of bliss where images of Robert Plant performing at a pagan festival are easy to conjure.
On ‘Ships’, the trippy bombast of Mason’s Beta Band is called to action. Direct and expansive, it creates a dystopian realm you must enter, no matter the risk.
This is a fine debut, one that deserves to propel Clarke onto bigger stages at Green Man and End of the Road style festivals.