Brooklyn-based 5-piece The National sit on the darker end of the indie-rock spectrum.  With their complex orchestrations and evocative lyrics sung in Matt Berninger’s distinctively brooding baritone, The National have won a legion of fans for their 2007 album Boxer, its layers revealing more and more with every listen.
 
The National formed in 1999 when all members – who grew up together in Ohio – found themselves all living in New York.  The band is 2 sets of brothers and vocalist Matt Berninger, with Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner, Bryan Devendorf, and Scott Devendorf.  Australian composer Padma Newsome of Clogs contributed string and horn arrangements.  On their acclaimed album, Boxer, neighbourhood friend Sufjan Stevens features on piano on the track Ada.
 
Their impressive sound is built with guitar, bass, piano and drums, festooned with brass, woodwinds, backing vocals, strings, and organs and topped with the gritty yet tender lyrics in the traditions of Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, Lou Reed and Nick Cave.
 
Their previous release, Alligator, became one of the most widely discussed and critically acclaimed independent albums of 2005 – "album of the year" to the Los Angeles Times critic.  2007 has seen The National touring extensively throughout Europe, Canada and the United States.  This will be their first visit to Australia.
 
Support for this concert will be Clogs, the project of The National guitarist, Bryce Dessner and Padma Newsome.  After their sell-out season in The Famous Spiegeltent at Sydney Festival 2007, Clogs’ make a triumphant return to their growing fan-base. 
 
Clogs’ intimate and rousing musical dreamscapes are a heady mix of slow-burning rhythms and swirling, delirious melodies.  This classically-trained four piece deliver exquisitely delicate compositions and sensuous and stirring arrangements bound to transfix and delight.  Their music has been likened to Sigur Rós, Australian improvised-jazz trio The Necks and American trio Rachel’s.
 
Don’t miss the opportunity to catch this special double-bill of The National and Clogs when they bring their quietly urgent, sophisticated music to City Recital Hall Angel Place.

Helene Fox
Publicist
Sydney Festival