ROB CLARKE
OPIOPE
ALDORA BRITAIN RECORDS
Opiope is Rob Clarke’s seventh solo album (he has also released music with The Wooltones and Brown Bears) and his first since 2024’s Blues Beats And Brel album. Opiope is much more of a band effort than his previous album, but not like his work with his other bands. Opiope is a very melodic album, such as “Heart For Advertising” is pop music with a slight edge to keep things very interesting. The chorus is very catchy, and with the majority of the album, the song stays with the listener long after the album is completed.
But then, Clarke shifts gears and ends the album with the sparse but wonderful “Blue Over You,” a song that would not have been out of place in the 1950s or 1960s. It is not so much retro as it is an homage to an era and style. Elsewhere there are songs like “Last Summer” and “Everything’s That’s Good”, which are darker, and have a 1980’s psychedelic vibe going on. But Clarke makes them his own, as he does with all the tracks on the album.
Clarke arranges and produces the songs brilliantly. They never become overblown or over produced, although he could have easily gone down that path had he chosen. The songs have space and he lets them play out in their own manner. He incorporates harmonies to great effect when they make an appearance. “Flat” is a great example of his use of vocals and the layering of vocals. The vocals give the song the urgency it needs. The song brings to mind fellow Liverpool band It’s Immaterial, but again, Clarke maintains his own sound and style.
Opiope is a brilliant album on which Clarke uses his lyrics in or to create atmosphere and his own meaning. He uses words carefully and at the same time, very playfully. Opiope is an album that is full of surprises and requires several listens to appreciate exactly what Clarke is doing with his songs, structures, production and sound. Opiope is a very strong album and is highly recommended for fans of pop-rock music with twists and turns.
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