beats in an expansive, eerie soundscape. The music simultaneously puts you at ease and propels you into motion. Creating beautiful songs from such a complex interplay of tones is anything but easy, and it’s therefore not surprising that Clones consist of two seasoned musicians, frontwoman/vocalist Ara Laylo and guitarist Paul Bajcar, and a rhythm mixer/synth player, Matthew McVickar, who eats, sleeps and breathes beats. McVickar regularly performs as a member of Clones, as a DJ under the moniker, ‘Capecod’ and as an electronic beat mixer known as ‘Lapwing.’  He then spends his free time engaged in the arduous task of getting his favorite, national electronic artists to perform in Honolulu. Earlier this year, he produced a sold-out show here featuring Toro y Moi, and McVickar is currently working to have a new national electronic artist added to the Hallowbaloo 2011 bill.

Many feel that doors will soon be opening for Clones allowing them to spread their wings and take their polished live act to North American shores and beyond. A recent award from The Boston Phoenix supports that notion.  The publication named COTQ Hawaii’s best new band in its “Best New Bands in America 2011” issue. The Phoenix writes, “As clumsy genre-hopping seems to be the rage these days, it’s refreshing to hear subtle, practical melding of scattered influences.”

This is a band that knows what it’s doing. Having released the Gate EP in December of 2010 and the band’s first full-length LP this year, there are many chapters of COTQ’s story yet to be told.