An artful, left-of-center pop group, Clock Opera are led by Guy Connelly, a multi-instrumentalist and sample-savvy producer whose soaring, soul-baring voice has recalled the likes of the Blue Nile's Paul Buchanan, the Associates' Billy Mackenzie, and Anohni without being quite as extreme as the latter two singers. A solo outlet turned full-fledged band based in London, Clock Opera have released the albums Ways to Forget (2012), the darker and more contemplative Venn (2017), and the emotionally and sonically exploratory Carousel (2020), along with a much greater quantity of singles, EPs, and remixes. Previously of the Fallout Trust and the Corrections, Connelly debuted Clock Opera in 2009 with the "White Noise" 7" on Puregroove. The A-side, full of sudden bursts in energy and sharp contrasts between sparse and heavily layered and processed sections, laid the foundation for future Clock Opera releases. Much activity followed in 2010, a year that entailed the singles "Piece of String" (Maman) and "Once and for All" (Kitsuné), plus remixes of the Phenomenal Handclap Band's "Baby," Marina & the Diamonds' "I Am Not a Robot," the Drums' "Me and the Moon," and Au Revoir Simone's "Tell Me." Another single on yet another label, "Belongings" (Moshi Moshi), appeared in 2011. Connelly transformed Clock Opera into a full band, bringing on his housemate Andy West as bassist/guitarist, his friend Dan Armstrong as keyboardist, and Che Albrighton, who had previously played with West, as the drummer. The numerous short-form releases and lineup developments culminated in 2012 the well-received debut album Ways to Forget, issued on Moshi Moshi. Following the departure of Armstrong, who was replaced by Nic Nell, Clock Opera returned on the !K7 label in 2017 with Venn. Minus West, they carried on as a trio with the 2020 LP Carousel, the writing of which was informed by Connelly's response to fatherhood. ~ Andy Kellman, Rovi