Vancouverites in touch with the local music scene will have heard of The Clips, who have opened for the likes of Metric and Holy Fuck, and have played in various cramped venues throughout the city. On August 8th, after signing with Unfamiliar Records, the band re-released their debut record Matterhorn (now available in stores across Canada).

It’s difficult to categorize The Clips’ music as one particular sound, as the record’s tracks span from electro-dance tunes to haunting ballads, such as the song “Darko.” The album is a trail mix of heavy guitar, pounding drums, electro-synth-pop rhythms, and delicate piano.

The opening track “Space Kidz” (also on ocw’s Summer 2008 compilation CD), is definitely not a sole representation of their sound; however, the guitar driven song is a crowd pleaser that will even make those too cool kids in the back of the room bust a move.

Each band member’s talents are showcased throughout the record, such as in the drum-driven track “Wire,” which invites comparisons between Thom Yorke and Edo Van Breemen’s voices, especially as Van Breemen hits a chilling falsetto towards the end of the song.

Other memorable tracks include the dance-fever inducing “Kassel” and the completely instrumental, electro-feel song “2nd Hand Deal.”

The nine songs on Matterhorn are a wonderful blend of the band’s talents and various influences. Rather than sticking to a safe sound that is guaranteed to garner fans (hey, Coldplay), The Clips have created a record that creates an experience for the listener. Despite playing it on repeat for the past month, I have yet to become bored or skip a track.

Matterhorn is definitely worth the investment for those wanting to experience the hidden treasures within the Vancouver music scene.