Clear is a mature third album for English musician Tim Simenon, who began his career as a hip-hop DJ, making cut-and-paste sample records, but has since come to repute as the producer for Depeche Mode, Gavin Friday, and Meat Beat Manifesto. Favoring the same sort of producer's back-seat position, Clear features several different vocalists, allowing Simenon to display his versatility. Overall, the entire work possesses an edgy Beat-like quality. On "Empire," an emotive ballad that plays with the similarity between the words "empire" and "vampire" to describe England as a bloodsucking entity, Sinead O'Connor duets with the delicate vocals of newcomer Benjamin Zephaniah to beautiful effect. Reggae legend Bim Sherman offers the gentle "Sleepyhead." But it's Los Angeles-based wordsmith Justin Warfield that is most responsible for Clear's sharp punch, waxing lyrical about Willy Wonka over Simenon's drug-addled oboe soundtrack on "Brain Dead" and flipping silver-tongued lines on the single "Bug Powder Dust. [amazon.com]

Tracklist :
01 Bug Powder Dust (with Justin Warfield)
02 Sleepyhead (with Bim Sherman)
03 One to One Religion (with Carlton)
04 Dark Heart (with Spikey T)
05 If You Reach the Border (with Leslie Weiner)
06 Brain Dead (with Justin Warfield)
07 5 Ml. Barrel (with Will Self)
08 Somewhere
09 Sandcastles (with Bernard Fowler)
10 Tidal Wave (with River)
11 Empire (with Benjamin Zephania & Sinead O'Connor)

Total Time: 53'40"
Extras: Cover, Cue, Log
Compression: Ape
Size: 322.21