Cleared – “Cleared” – [Immune Recordings]

Cleared is Steven Hess and Michael Vallera, from Chicago, and formed around 2009. Their main idea was to make music based on focus and patience, which is what you’ll need with this record. It’s beautiful, empty and extremely minimal. Percussion, electronics, and field recordings were filled in with sparse guitar and synthesizer. The first is like a floating thick bell, echoing in the fog. While the second is more of a hovering soft drone with industrial and wooden sounding bangs, of course still in the fog of the night. (The clouds on the cover are quite equivalent to the sound of this release.) Side B starts with almost a train engine sound. The final track brings in some drums and louder guitar if you want something not quite so soft and gentle, and more rhythmic.