Coloured Clocks reaches new creative heights on his album, "Rare Bird"
Fourteen amazing albums into a career is usually where an artist either settles comfortably into a formula or starts running out of ideas, but James Wallace, the mastermind behind Coloured Clocks, does neither on "Rare Bird." Instead, he sounds genuinely reinvigorated, delivering one of the most beautiful entries in a catalog we've been following closely for a long time now.
Since 2011, Coloured Clocks has built a prolific body of work, evolving alongside Wallace's own journey from Melbourne to Cologne and now London, and that constant movement has always shaped the project's sound in interesting ways. Following up on last year's "Platypus," "Rare Bird" continues that evolution beautifully, pushing his signature psychedelic sound into even more gorgeous, textured territory. There's noticeably more acoustic work woven throughout this record, but it never abandons the hypnotic, kaleidoscopic qualities longtime fans have come to love. Instead, it feels like a natural expansion of everything Coloured Clocks has always done well.
Don’t worry if you’re a longtime fan, you’re still going to get those colorful synths, his angelic vocals, and an overall sound that effortlessly brings a fun groove. If anything, we sort of felt like this one could’ve been release in the 80’s or 90’s and it would have sounded just as good.
Across twelve songs and forty eight minutes, "Rare Bird" is a genuinely immersive listen. It pulls you in and doesn't let go, building this swirling, dreamlike atmosphere that feels equal parts hypnotic and warm. You get thrown in on “A Life Like This” and we promise it only goes up from there! Wallace's melodic instincts remain as sharp as ever, and honestly, hearing him continue to find fresh, amazing melodies this deep into his catalog is incredible. There's no sign of creative fatigue here whatsoever, if anything, this album sounds like an artist still finding new corners of his own sound to explore.
His vocals have always been a standout, but he sounds better than ever, especially in his higher register, which adds this layer of clarity to these songs. A standout on that end was “The Tower of Dreaming”, we loved that one! It’s obviouslty paired with outstanding production throughout, every track feels rich and fully realized, layered enough to reward repeat listens while still remaining completely inviting on a first pass.
"Rare Bird" is a true album experience rather than just a collection of songs. So if you think you can just skip around aimlessly, you’re wrong. It sucks you in from the opening notes and carries you through its full runtime with real intention, the kind of record built to be heard front to back in one sitting rather than shuffled through. We definitely thought there were “singles”, but just the ease of transition from song to song, you can literally feel it build in intensity.
Once again, you hear about an artist with fourteen albums and might think how are they continuing to revolutionize, but this’ll prove you wrong. "Rare Bird" is a truly beautiful record, one of the most rewarding entries in an already remarkable catalog, and further proof that James Wallace's creative well shows absolutely no signs of running dry.
So please, click those links below to listen in and of course to follow along. While you’re at it, start from the beginning for the ultimate thrill ride.
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