Kate Clover is living 'The Apocalypse Dream' on high-octane new LP
Following up 2022’s underground ripper Bleed Your Heart Out, Los Angeles firebrand Kate Clover returns with The Apocalypse Dream, an unmitigated powerhouse of an album that whips and crackles with electric attitude born from the sunbaked streets and neon-lit back alleys of a city forever on the cusp of total obliteration and embroiled in the upheaval of perpetual rebirth.
Building upon the already considerable strength of her previous output, Clover reinforces nearly every aspect of her established identity on The Apocalypse Dream, stacking the deck with a tracklist of resolute rippers imbued with an undeniable immediacy.
Each note of The Apocalypse Dream is polished to an impeccable show-ready shine that gleams like acres of chrome trimming the fenders of a classic coupe, engine rumbling beneath the expansive hood ready and waiting for the moment the pedal hits the floor, dropshifted into a explosive tire-squealing launch across the starting line. From the opening seconds of the title track Clover asserts main-character energy, and the crystalline production keeps her powerful voice front and center to create a singular nexus of brilliant perspective brimming with confidence and take-no-prisoners temperament. Tales of cathode-tube annihilation and high octane romance explode amidst a maelstrom of razor sharp licks and perfectly angular percussion whipping each element into an enthusiastic frenzy of riffs and rhythms.
The Apocalypse Dream is packed to the bursting with some of the stickiest hooks ever put to a rock n roll record, running the gamut from the sugary sass of “Here Comes The Love Bomb” to the pogoing propulsion of “Disconnected” and “Like A Domino.” The ability to construct such infectious earworms is arguably Clover’s greatest strength, supercharging the entire album with an electromagnetic gravity inescapable in its cosmically colossal power.
Clover eases off the gas monetarily with the mid-tempo “Damage Control,” a jangly ballad that swings with a relative delicacy when stood up against the rest of the lineup. It’s a prime example of Clover’s skills as a songwriter, expanding the album’s offerings and showcasing her ability to craft a more intimate atmosphere while still retaining the captivating immediacy that defines her style.
On the penultimate night of the Spring tour in support of The Apocalypse Dream, Kate Clover dominated the stage at The Echo with a riotous set that effectively demonstrated her megawatt star-power and the unstoppable energy of her band. For those unfamiliar, Clover and the boys might lend the impression of a band indebted to familiar rock n roll tropes, but don’t let the the leopard print and skinny ties fool you; Kate Clover is far from a retro act.
With a punky demeanor that flexes with muscular aggression, Kate Clover’s stage presence is that of an apex predator stalking the lip of the stage and primed to strike at a moment’s notice. This feline ferocity is tempered with an aura of untouchable cool not unlike that of fellow platinum-tressed siren Debbie Harry, but possessed of a uniquely perilous quality that rings true with the dangerous glamour synonymous with the very city of Los Angeles itself.
As Clover and Co. ripped through a setlist that pulled heavily from The Apocalypse Dream peppered with previous hits including “Channel Zero” and Crimewave,” the band abandoned any pretense of subtlety in favor of an all-out cataclysm of non-stop punk n roll. Each track exploded with unhinged mania, propelled by the unparalleled guitar heroics of lead axeman Giuliano Scarfo, a perfect match for Clover’s supersized persona. On the other side of the spectrum David Field was deep in the pocket with a jazz-like percussive precision, and William Evans kept the basslines marching along a heavy groove - a rock solid rhythm section launchpad for the band’s impressive pyrotechnics. Even with such a markedly energetic recorded repertoire it’s clear that Kate Clover’s compositions are made for the stage, a can’t-miss act that delivers in pure 101-proof attitude without a hint of manufactured posturing. Kate Clover is the real deal.
The Apocalypse Dream is available for streaming now on Spotify. Pre-order the album on limited vinyl here. Follow Kate Clover on Instagram.
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