The Clientele

The Clientele formed in London in 1991, though they spent much of the 1990s releasing singles on small independent labels before gaining wider recognition in the early 2000s. Alasdair MacLean, Mel Sherrat, and Mark Keen developed a sound rooted in 1960s pop — jangly guitars, reverb, and a sense of autumnal melancholy — that felt both timeless and distinctly their own.

'Strange Geometry' (2005) on Merge Records brought them to a wider audience, a record of extraordinary delicacy and emotional depth. 'God Save the Clientele' (2007) and 'Bonfires on the Heath' (2009) maintained the quality, each album adding orchestral arrangements and new textures while preserving the essential intimacy of MacLean's songwriting. They were championed by critics on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Clientele went on hiatus in 2010 before returning with 'Music for the Age of Miracles' (2017), which was widely acclaimed as one of their finest records. They have continued to record and perform, with MacLean's songwriting growing in ambition and depth. They are one of the great underappreciated acts in British indie pop — their back catalogue is essential listening for anyone who loves the quieter, more contemplative end of the genre. ⚠ Flag: post-2017 activity — verify most recent release.