{"product_id":"actor-1","title":"Actor","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClark\u003c\/strong\u003e co-produced \u003cem\u003e'Actor'\u003c\/em\u003e with John Congleton (Modest Mouse, Polyphonic Spree). The album features eleven new songs, all written and arranged by \u003cstrong\u003eClark\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Actor'\u003c\/em\u003e builds upon the ambitious compositional and sonic foundations of \u003cstrong\u003eClark's\u003c\/strong\u003e debut. The arrangements are more masterful, the songwriting grander, and the performances more confident and inspired.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor \u003cem\u003e'Actor'\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eClark\u003c\/strong\u003e developed an idiosyncratic writing process. She immersed herself in some of her favorite films such as 'Badlands', 'Pierrot le Fou', 'The Wizard of Oz', 'Stardust Memories', and 'Sleeping Beauty'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEach song started as a secret film score, slowly gaining independence as its structure and lyrics came into focus. The resulting eleven tracks are as cinematic as pop songs can be.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe album is like a private movie, revealing its storyline through hushed, cunning couplets and scathing guitar cascades. It's a record to listen to with your eyes closed, with melodies transposed and inverted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Actor'\u003c\/em\u003e juxtaposes the fantasy of Disney with the sweep of Morricone, David Mamet's unsettling dramatic form, and the alienation of Philip Roth. Igor Stravinsky scores Roger Corman's horror flicks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'The Strangers'\u003c\/em\u003e starts as a dulcet elegy for a lost love before capsizing under a flood of distortion. \u003cem\u003e'Actor Out of Work'\u003c\/em\u003e is a devastating sonic kiss-off with slyly poisonous lyrics and steamrolling guitars.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe opening strings and woodwinds of \u003cem\u003e'Marrow'\u003c\/em\u003e could be escorting Dorothy to the Emerald City or straight into the flying monkeys' clutches. The crackerjack band, including supporting turns by McKenzie Smith and Paul Alexander of Midlake, has the crunch of a tank and the grace of a chamber ensemble.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"No Label","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50432774766923,"sku":"312746","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50432775618891,"sku":"312745","price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/51c71d72-f2eb-433f-ac90-20eaec9fa6d6_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726873651","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/products\/actor-1","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}