If you've listened closely to The National's Alligator, you will have noticed the wonderful, very subtle use of classical instruments — strings primarily — to deepen and enrich the group's sounds. Here Padma Newsome, the sixth, unofficial member of The National, brings his ideas to the foreground, working with National guitarist Bryce Dessner, Rachael Elliott and Thomas Kozumplik to weave nuanced, achingly beautiful chamber compositions. These cuts linger somewhere outside the traditional boundaries that separate experimental pop from classical music.

Clogs - 5/4

http://s52.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=14TT ... RG0URYL6ZB

I wish they would linger longer.

Yes, I just wanted to say that.

No, seriously, thanks, Dalen. Sounds like my cuppa.

EDIT: Listened, definitely getting. Wishlisted.

So...this is Clogs, then. Not Clor.

All right, you meanie-meanie.

real good band.

haha. much better than Clor.

This is WOW! How cool is it to hear actual classical instrumentation (instead of samples and loops)? These people are clearly well versed and trained musicians. thanks for this tip, D. I have been listening to lots of Sonny Rollins and Count Basie beacuase I was hungry for a wide range of instruments often only found in older recordings---in my collection, that is-- so I enjoyed this a great deal.

By the way: itunes followed this with the Coral Sea's (an alpha thing) Volcano & Heart...which kicks off with a cello. bonus! I can see the common thread of attraction for you. Once again, thanks, I will look further into these shoes.