Mike Clark

This is smooth, shimmering indie rock with a bit of grit under the fingernails. Sometimes it’s the performers with the most unassuming names that surprise the most. Vancouver’s Mike Clark has created a collection of songs that flow like shoe-gazing pop ("Built The War"), yet incorporates some folk and blues elements ("Sick Of You") and soft touches of pedal steel and piano with "Down," before the driving Mystery Machines-esque "Broke Glass" veers back into indie territory. Clark’s voice is reminiscent of Matt Mays gentled down a bit. He’s a storytelling troubadour with a keen sense of melody and a maddeningly addictive sound. - chartattack.com - Shannon Whibbs

When Mike Clark opens his album with a one-two beat, lap steel guitar and rimshots, you might want to write him off as just another alt-country type. Despite claims that he only has "four chords and some sad words," by the time the album gets to the epic rocker "Structures," he has already surpassed any expectations that the first track could give. When he turns on the distortion pedal – for the most longing chorus of the year – Clark ensures that you pay attention to the rest of the record. With smooth vocal melodies and restrained guitar work, he easily places him’self alongside Being There-era Wilco. Clark builds Darker Machines with such impressive tension and superior songwriting that when the children’s choir joins in (yeah, I know what you’re thinking, but trust me) you can’t help but be won over. Making music that is so much more than roots rock, Clark does a valiant job resurrecting indie-rock and creating a layered and beautiful release at the same time. - FFWD - Jason Lewis

Mike Clark was a former university wrestler and having done time in the oilfield he decided to take it easy and be a road manager for Tegan and Sara. Tired of doing all the hard work, Clark has decided to make his own music and Darker Machines is our introduction to what he has to offer. It's a fairly typical singer/songwriter album but the thing with with Darker Machines is that it is totally compelling. I have listened to it over and over and feel that Mike Clark offers up something a little different and a little more diverse than a lot of other songwriters right now. The album is diverse in a way that very few songwriters are getting across these days. Some might lump Mike into the Americana genre but there is as much a rock element as there is a folk element. Try explaining to a folk fan that the album closer "Built The War" is a folk song. You would have nothing to stand on. There are some pretty cool effects going on. But then again, on "Down", the album opener, you could easily even convince the biggest Americana fan that Mike Clark is the next big thing. There are some pretty big tempo changes on Darker Machines as well as style changes. I get a big Sam Roberts/Jack Johnson feel on "Crumbs", probably the best song on the album. And probably the most rocking track on the album has to be "Sick Of You" with some pretty interesting chord progressions. Then on "Threes and Fours" there is some of the nicest guitar playing from a Canadian. The songs are fairly simple with melody being the main focus. The Vancouver based producer simply known as Futcher (Be Good Tanyas) provides a perfect atmosphere on the album. This album is definitely not instantaneous. Because the music is very understated it takes about 4-5 listens before you fall in love with it.
(Copperspine 2004) - MusicEmmissions.com - Dennis Scanland

Canadian indie music tends to have an open-road feel to it, and Mike Clark's Darker Machines is no exception. But unlike most Canadian indie music, it moves beyond the road and forays into a wide stretch of head space. And yes, as you may have guessed – it can be pretty dark. Especially on "Sick of You" which employs a children's choir to sweetly sing "Go Away" to whomever it is he's sick of. Kinda like having your lil' old Granny tell you you're a screw-up…somehow it's harsher that way.

But for all its dark territory, Clark covers it with an intensity and beauty reminiscent of Placebo's "Without You I'm Nothing." Something about Mike Clark's music will compel you to listen over and over again. The somber ethereal guitars? The intimate acoustic confessions? Maybe it's just that instead of describing his on the road experiences, Mike Clark is instead passing on it's harsh lessons.
- Soulshine.ca - Lindsay Bloemink

There's something for everyone on this disc. Songs that are atmospheric and
rythmic, some with memorable and catchy phrases ("How am I going to get
through?" on Down-without the overly sappy pleading you'd expect), some that
are hypnotic and trippy, and some that just out and out rock.
Multi-dimensional Rootsy/ Pop /Rock is what best decribes this debut from
Red Deer, Alberta tranplant Mike Clark. The latest addition to the eclectic,
Vancouver-based Copperspine Records collective (www.copperspine.com for
further enlightenment).

There is a darkness to this album, but not so much as to scare you away.
It's impressively balanced by sympathetic backing, be it either with
haunting e-bowed electric guitars or lovely, layed backing vocals. Having a
producer (Futcher-one of his other masterful productions is Girl Nobody)
with a good ear,who lets the true, natural and unassuming voice of the
performer and his songs come through without sacificing it with
overly-zealous production trickery is something to be applauded here. This
album works from start to finish. You feel the artist was given the freedom
to hone his musein a supportive and empathetic surrounding.

Solid, acoustic-based songs (at least at the beginning of some tunes) with
thoughtful, intelligent lyrics that do a fine turn on the usual boy-girl
subject matter. Mike Clark is a wise musical investment.

Recommended tracks: Down, Crumbs, Marla, Structures, Threes & Fours, Built
The War
- Columbia Journal - Mark Bignell