MCL (Marc Clerkin) is a producer songwriter and guitarist from Monaghan, Ireland based in South London. With over 30 years as a gigging musician, Marc’s passion now lies in the crafting and production of pop music with a European influence. His single ‘Last Dance’ is to be released independently on 28-9-2020 and features Juti (his fiancé) on vocals. Haunting and mesmerizing, the single leans its template into the tasty, and zesty Europop flavorings. Unlike much of the music in the modern pop category, MCL never goes over the top with his production or featured vocals, but stays happily smooth, yet briskly bouncy.
In a genre where other artists tend to get off track with ear-grinding over-the-top bass or banging percussion that is just there to give you a headache, MCL will make you just want to close eyes and admire the wonder of the musical landscapes he paints with his crisp instrumentation – complete with the magical vocals of Juti, of course. Though subtly melancholic, the overall sound on ‘Last Dance’, is one which conjures up visions of wide open vistas, and endless skies.
Not surprisingly of course, considering the narrative of a distressed lover who finds a new lease on life. We often wait decades to start waxing sentimental about the music releases of yesteryear. Well in this case, MCL has delivered us that same nostalgic sound that is all but lost on most modern releases.
Regardless of the song’s theme, there is that intangible sonic aura which shines, sparkles, and thrills with every note played, or sung. You won’t hear another track this year that sounds like, ‘Last Dance’, does. Unless of course, it’s a MCL release. Nobody bothers to make tracks this meticulously clean and catchy anymore.
Juti is constantly climbing and soaring with her vocals, while MCL surrounds her with an array of highly polished sounds. If you were concentrating on the words, you probably wouldn’t have noticed how the ambience, guitars and synths amass in intensity and layers, as the funky rhythm sets the song in motion, paving the way for the melody.
Once Juti adds her mellifluously beautiful vocals to the mix, you couldn’t be blamed for wondering where the music could possibly go from here. ‘Last Dance’ is chock full of aesthetic homages to the pop music of the 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s, providing a fantastic expression for the track’s all-embracing grandeur. It’s stunningly beautiful and easily one of the strongest MCL songs yet.
MCL’s desire to make a solid artistic statement – somewhat of a rarity these days, in a market more obsessed with making money – results in an engrossing listen. Indie these days is all about the noise and the haze, but MCL and Juti have created a track that shines with resounding clarity.
A song that explodes into exactly the surfeit of radiating warmth it promises from the opening bars. The totality of sound on ‘Last Dance’, has a way of converting even the most critical listener, with music that will stick to your ears. MCL shows us that the new decade can be as intriguingly catchy as the musical eras gone by.
OFFICIAL LINKS: WEBSITE – Twitter @mclmusic1 – Facebook @mclmusic – Souncloud @MCLmusic
