The Couple – Andrew Clendenen (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

There is a vibe running through “The Couple,” not even a vibe, more an attitude, an approach, a feeling, something that seems to be found only within the music of a small collection of writers. It’s hard to put your finger on, I guess it is what they refer to as the “x-factor,” that intangible quality that echoes through classic songs.

This new one from Andrew Clendenen has this; it shimmers with the same accessibility as the likes of Squeeze, runs on the rock infectiousness of Tom Petty, and has the same touch of folk-pop introspection that David Gray does so well. And that is one hell of a mix to have bubbling away in the psyche of the song. Like I say, classic…or at least a classic in the making, just add time.

“The Couple” will be featured on Idol Time – The Compilation, a retrospective of Andrew’s work to date, which includes a selection of previously released material as well as new songs, of which this track is one. And if you are new to Andrew’s music, this is the perfect place to start. Whether it is “Muck’s” ’50s-infused, buoyant pop groove or the intricate cascades of guitar from which “Jenny’s Ghost” is woven, the darker Americana sonics of “Winona’s Wedding” or the gorgeousness and grandure of “The Women of My Life,” this is a brilliant showcase of music.

In “The Couple,” we have a song that serves as a bridge between the past, as represented by much of the music on the album, and the future, which is this latest release. And in it, we find a singer-songwriter honing his skills, a musician who knows how to add just enough sonic adornment to serve the song perfectly, an artist who understands that it is not the flash and showboating that make a song stand out; it is something much simpler, yet far more complex than that. Taste. And Andrew’s songs are so tastefully composed, as this single and indeed this album so readily prove.