THE 3 CLUBMEN – “LOOK AT THOSE STARS”
A SPILL EXCLUSIVE VIDEO PREMIERE
Not long ago, we featured the debut EP from The 3 Clubmen – a new project made up of XTC’s Andy Partridge, Jen Olive and Stu Rowe – along with the video for their debut single ‘Aviatrix’. Today we have the pleasure of premiering their new video for ‘Look At Those Stars’, the track they’ve collectively selected to showcase this fantastic four-track release.
With Jen Olive on lead vocals and Andy Partridge contributing back vocals and harmonies, this is a beatastic offering that also comes in package with a fantastic video that was animated by Jen Olive herself. Equally gorgeous and inspiring, this heavenly slice of art-pop sees Jen Olive transform depression into a feeling that propels to flight into surreal feel-good territory. Here, she meets in the sonic stratosphere with Andy Partridge and a fun, catchy and layered bed of magnificence created by Stu Rowe.
The use of AI technology to create the ‘Look at Those Stars’ video breaks open the song’s mix of somber reflection and bursting euphoria to tell a dreamy, ever-shifting story filled with playful references and psychedelic symbolism.
Jen Olive explains, “With this video, I wanted to create something more like a film… an impressionistic docu-dramedy that tells our story and is fun to watch. I was actually on the brink of a serious breakdown when this song was being made. It was such a dark time. I had moved to the middle of nowhere in the desert and was just isolating, trying to ground myself. It’s born from that. It’s a simple little song but that’s what it is for me.”
An avant-pop delight offering a strange, seductive blend of experimental pop, jazz and sci-fi cinema excellence, The 3 Clubmen EP was released via Swindon’s own Lighterthief label with distribution via Britain’s Burning Shed. Although they are all longtime collaborators – all part of the Lighterthief label family tree – this is the first time that Stu, Andy and Jen have combined forces as a trio, an inevitable partnership once described as “a three-headed Frankenstein’s monster dancing at a neurodivergent singles club”.
“I’d go and hang out at Stu’s bunker, because it’s better than ‘playing with yourself’, arf arf, no, I think of him as a brother and love being down at his place. He’d say things like, “Andy, listen to what I found, that I think we’ve forgotten, it’s really good” or things like “I sent this idea to Jen and she zapped this great vocal suggestion back.” It kind of accrued like inventive barnacles, or fungus, really organically. But again, lots get thrown out. That’s the nature of improv. It’s heavy on the reject %. Miles Davis and Can knew that,” says Andy Partridge.
“Our three musical sensibilities seemed to fit together very easily. Jen and Andy’s voices blend really well- we can all handle a little dissonance and odd time signatures – and we were all really open to any possibilities,” saysStu Rowe.
Best known as co-founder of XTC, Partridge is known as the “godfather of Britpop”. His most recent solo releases include ‘My Failed Songwriting Career, Volumes 1 & 2′, various XTC re-releases, the ‘Planet England’ EP with Robyn Hitchcock, the ‘Powers’ collection of sound pieces, and the Gonwards album withPeter Blegvad. He has also recently written songs for The Monkees, Miles Kane and others.
Albuquerque-based LA native musician-songwriter Jen Olive has a series of albums to her name, in addition to writing and recording for A&M Records and contributing music to various American Film Institute projects. Her latest solo release was 2022’s Stu Rowe-produced single ‘Two Futures’.
A key player on Swindon’s music scene, Stu Rowe has supported many artists as a guitarist, bassist and producer, including Paul Weller, Shriekback (Barry Andrews), Colin Moulding, Future Sound of London (The Amorphous Androgynous), and TC&I.
The Clubmen saga begins in 2006, when Andy and Stu first worked on Monstrance’ Riding on a mutual fascination with experimental music production, a bi-weekly ritual soon emerged, starting at Stu’s Lighterthief Bunker and ending at the local pub, which resulted in sonic explorations and improvised recordings. A series of musical sketches gradually formed, setting the stage for Jen’s later involvement.
With interest reignited during the pandemic after being put on hold and largely forgotten, the trio decided to finish what they’d started all those years ago, resulting in their debut 4-track effort.
In 2010, the three were finally able to work together in person – the chemistry instant, the room abuzz and ideas flowing. Over pints at The Roaring Donkey pub, they dubbed their project “The 3 Clubmen” after the local defence volunteer groups formed during the English Civil War. Clubmen protected themselves from both armies by fighting on their own side – the name seemed to fit.
The 3 Clubmen EP is out now and can be ordered on CD via Burning Shed Records Digitally, it can be downloaded from fine music platforms, including Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music.
EP CREDITS
All songs written and performed by The 3 Clubmen
Music by Andy Partridge, Jen Olive and Stu Rowe
Lyrics by Andy Partridge and Jen Olive
Film and Music production by The Encyclopedia Salesmen
Recorded and produced from 2010-2023 in The Lighterthief Bunker, Swindon
Additional recordings in Albuquerque, New Mexico
Andy Partridge – vocals, guitars, programming and production
Jen Olive – vocals and guitar
Stu Rowe – bass, guitars, keys, programming and production
Frank Abrams – flute
Mikey Rowe – keys
Curtis Tweed – slide guitar
Andreas Rebhuhn – drums
‘Bangy’ – percussion
Produced by Stu Rowe
Mixed by The Encyclopedia Salesmen
Mastered by Jason Mitchell at Loud Mastering
Artwork by Carl Glover at Aleph Studio
Now treat yourself to the full EP and the official video for the lead track “Aviatrix”
The 3 Clubmen
[Single]
(Lighterthief Records)
Release Date: August 2, 2023
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