There was some excitement in Backseat Mafia towers at the news of a brand-new single and video for “Dr Clarke” by The Loft, and it’s a track that encapsulates everything that made the band such a defining force in mid-80s jangle pop – at least in my house after taking a chance on their single “Up the hill and down the slope” from much lamented (by me at least) record shop Left Legged Pineapple in Loughborough a very long time ago.
Todays Loft nusic bear those same qualities – “Dr Clarke” blessed with spidery guitars, warmth, wry observational storytelling, and melodies that felt like old friends. Even decades on, The Loft haven’t lost their knack for creating music that feels both immediate and timeless.
The video, directed by Ruth Tidmarsh, captures the band’s joy and focus during the album sessions. As Pete Astor explains: “I love how Ruth’s video has captured the seriousness, closeness, and the enjoyment we all had making the record. The song itself is about any one of those slightly dubious charismatic types who manages to get people doing things they maybe don’t actually want to do.”
Watch the video for “Dr Clarke” here, and let the jangling warmth of The Loft remind you why they remain one of the most quietly influential guitar bands of their era.
Check it out, here
