Clare and the Reasons

Bio:

This was sent in and Choreographed by Heidi Hanson, Arts Rochester Ensemble - Dance Rochester 2009 Evening Show.



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Member Since:

January 30, 2005

Members:

Beaker
Animal
Rowlf the Dog
The Swedish Chef
Gonzo
Scooter
Fozzie Bear
Clare Manchon
Olivier Manchon
Bob Hart
Jon Cottle

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Visit Clare and the Reasons on Facebook.


Follow Clare and the Reasons on Twitter.


To purchase "The Movie" CD in North America, as well as t-shirts and kazoos, visit www.frogstandrecords.com


To purchase "The Movie" CD or LP (with bonus track!) in Europe, visit www.fargorecords.com


To purchase "The Movie" CD in Australia, visit www.shock.com.au


To purchase "The Movie" CD in Japan, visit www.spiceoflife.co.jp


To purchase "The Movie" CD in South Korea, visit www.beatballrecords.com


Download "The movie" on iTunes.


Purchase "The Movie" CD at www.amazon.com

Or visit your local record store!

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About Clare and the Reasons

Brooklyn-based Clare and the Reasons, fronted by collaborators Clare Manchon and Olivier Manchon, are pleased to announce the release of their sophomore album, Arrow, just out October 20th on Frog Stand Records. Arrow features a special guest appearance from Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond, and is the followup to their acclaimed debut LP, The Movie, which included contributions from Van Dyke Parks and Sufjan Stevens.

Clare and the gang have spent the past two years touring around the world in support of The Movie. Live, they have a steady list of contributors, with a lot of instruments– cellos, violas, things to hit, kazoos, baby kotos, saws, recorders, and a bass drum that says "Kaboom" on it. It took a bit of wood, nails and many blankets to make Arrow in a recording tent built in the Ditmas Park apartment of Clare and the Reasons’ neighbor, friend and engineer, Alex Venguer. Clare and the Reasons deliver an assortment of meticulously constructed and arranged songs, most written by Clare in her very own kitchen, arranged by Olivier in the living room with two cats by his side, and recorded with surgical precision with the help of “Reason” Bob Hart. Walking the line between musical maturity and sophistication and primal, childlike musical instincts, Arrow floats in both worlds, comfortably.

In the midst of nothing but glowing reviews of both "Arrow" and live shows Clare and the Reasons toured US/Canada 3 times for "Arrow" thus far with Van Dyke Parks, Vic Chesnutt and Nouvelle Vague. They did an extensive euro tour in March 2010. The Reasons have euro festivals this summer (including Primavera Sound and Meltdown Festival in London) and another USA tour with Van Dyke Parks in fall 2010. You can hear Clare's voice throughout the first season singing on "Arrested Development", the beloved show. Clare has 2 songs in new French films, "Jusqua Toi", and "Les Nuits de Sister Welsh". Van Dyke Parks says, “Clare is the Reasons’ raison d’être. Melodious et mysterieux–(the group) defines esprit de corps. (wrapped in) elegant arrangements for your dream escape— Chamber music with edge. Get this Visa to real musical adventure. Totally transportive!”

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Contact

For live bookings:
- Europe/UK: christophe(AT)getyouractstogether(DOT)net
- North America: The Windish Agency tom(AT)windishagency.com

Management in Europe/UK: Chloe Tolmer: chloe(at)otherkind(dot)com

US Press: Brooke @ Big Hassle PR: brooke(at)bighassle(dot)com
For EU press: Chloe Tolmer: chloe(at)otherkind(dot)com

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NEW PRESS!

"Clare and the Reasons played sweetly intricate chamber-pop that somehow mingled folk-pop, Philip Glass, cabaret oompah and the Beach Boys — for starters — behind the songwriter Clare Muldaur Manchon’s poised high voice, with an endearing quaver " - The New York Times

Even by Brooklyn standards, Clare and the Reasons are inescapably, inconceivably cute... Honeyed without being saccharine, Arrow hints at St. Vincent's bittersweet rhapsody, but settles for twice the tenderness. - Spin Magazine

This rules: Brooklyn chamber-pop crew Clare & the Reasons give “That’s All” the “Tusk” treatment, tricking it out with tubas and making it sound slinky and sinister. - Rolling Stone

"They move well together. Couple behind Clare and the Reasons use honesty and humor as their creative spark." - Boston Globe

"Clare and the Reasons are terrifyingly cute. They could destroy all worlds of lesser cuteness, blasting apart their molecules like Oppenheimer...Clare's frail quavers were lovely, as bittersweet yet placid as could ever be hoped for. The band was surreal..." - The Village Voice

"Onstage, they meticulously re-created nearly every sound from the album, which is no small feat for a mere quartet." - Pitchfork

"Henceforth, noogies to the man who contests the greatness of local band Clare and the Reasons. For the new album, Arrow, is a true work of brilliance. It’s an infallible record." = Daily Candy

“Brooklyn's helium-voiced Clare Muldaur Manchon coos ever-so-sweetly about the bummer part of love in this midtempo indie-pop cut [‘Ooh You Hurt Me So’]. Think Regina Spektor x Nina Persson and you've got the gist” – NYLON Magazine

“Indie-pop darlings Clare And The Reasons return with another twinkling number so sweet it should come with a toothbrush. Clare And The Reasons is a multi-instrumental festival, featuring glockenspiel, horns and kazoos. No wonder Sufjan Stevens is one of their biggest fans.” – Magnet Magazine

“Endearingly sunny.” – CMJ

“Clare Manchon is [classy], with a voice like old flannel; warm, soft, with just a tinge of prickle.” - BUST

“Clare and the Reasons deliver an assortment of meticulously constructed and arranged songs.” – The Deli NYC

“Arrow’s ending, “Wake Up (You Sleepy Head),” is as pleasant as its start making Clare and the Reasons très magnifique.” – Big Takeover

“Clare uses her sweet versatile voice, reminiscent of Nina Persson of The Cardigans, to swoop and dive through Bjork sized intervals. Imagine Andrew Bird collaborating with Harry Nilsson to write a soundtrack to a French Noir movie and you've got a nice approximation” – The Deli NYC

“[‘Ooh You Hurt Me So’] is a lovely song complete with a whistle solo.” – Death + Taxes Magazine

“Manchon boasts previous contributors as diverse and impressive as members of The National, Beirut and My Brightest Diamond, as well as Van Dyke Parks (the man who Disneyfied Joanna Newsom) and the perennially popular Sufjan Stevens, and it’s not hard to see why the feted and venerated of the indie scene are apparently queueing up to collaborate with her.” – Wears the Trousers Magazine

“The overall feel of preview track ‘Ooh You Hurt Me So’ is akin to St Vincent auditioning for a slot with Elephant 6 on a Sunday afternoon, and showcases some of the best layering since Kurt Cobain made it cool to wear three jumpers at once. Even the whistling solo is rendered oddly gracious by Manchon’s delicate vocal delivery, which seems to coat the lyrics in a sugary languor. Elegant music for a summer ending, there are no Reasons not to check this out.” – Wears the Trousers Magazine

“Filled with elegant arrangements, tongue-in-cheek wit and sophisticated chamber pop melodies that would charm the most ardent indie hipster” – Direct Current

“Manchon has a delightfully coy wistfulness in her voice, a whispery little-girl quality gives her songs a playful, bittersweet innocence” – Direct Current

“Don’t the germans have a name for when someone else’s hurt is your pleasure? I think its called ‘SchaudenClare.’” – The New Gay

“I love how incredibly comfortable [‘Ooh You Hurt Me So’] sounds and feels. Now, I have no idea what's most responsible for that - the fact that it was recorded in the duo's apartment, the lush and pleasantly quirky arrangement or Clare's endearing vocal style. But, I am aware of how this is certainly the perfect little tune to help you cruise right on through hump day.” – Side One: Track One

“'Ooh You Hurt Me So' is a winsome slice of chamber-pop with a breezy chorus that's sure to lodge in the brain and jaunty flourishes like a whistling interlude. It's all so perfectly pleasant that the hurt doesn't sound so bad; one imagines that there's a reconciliation and a "Happily Ever After" in the future.” – The Red Alert

“[‘Arrow’ is] sure to be a perfect release for the fall” – The Late Greats

“Catchy Motown-inflected pop.” – Lucid Culture

Influences:

Fromage! Nice people, mean people.

Record Label:

Frog Stand Records/Fargo Records

Label Type:

Indie