As they prepare to release their self-titled debut album next month, emerging Philadelphia-based outfit Clockwise On Fire has dropped their latest single “What Will You Forget” featuring Anthony Green of Circa Survive. The track hinges on a quirky circus-ready rhythm ripe for a Looney Tunes montage before an off-kilter guitar races alongside a cathartic vocal fit from Green, who penned the lyrics. PRESS HERE to listen. Showcasing their sonic hybrid of psychedelic rock, progressive, funk, and alternative, Clockwise On Fire, also featuring their debut single “Dig,” will be released independently on October 22nd – PRESS HERE to pre-save on Spotify and Apple Music.
“I was going through my backlog of ideas and remembered that this tune from a few years back gave me a kind of evil clowns from Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure vibe, so I sent it over to Tim,” shares co-founder Brian Lynch. “He was feeling it and immediately added drums and percussion. We then developed it a bit further and Tim said he could see Anthony on the track. We sent it over to him and not much longer, he sent it back with the killer vocals you hear on there today.”
“I was stuck in my basement thinking I wasn’t going to be able to play music for people ever again and having daily panic attacks about what to do with all the pressure I felt building up,” explains Anthony Green. “That’s what this song is about. That pressure.”
Clockwise On Fire is the musical union of longtime friends and collaborators Tim Arnold [Good Old War, Anthony Green] and Brian Lynch. The duo, who blur the lines between eloquent songcraft and instrumental fluidity, channel a spirit of unbridled freedom on their debut album. The forthcoming collection, mixed by Jason Cupp [Maps and Atlases, American Football, Milk Carton Kids, Good Old War], sees Tim contributing drums, percussion, synths, and keyboards, while Brian holds down guitar, bass, synths and keyboards, with both sharing lyrical and vocal duties.
Clockwise On Fire first introduced their original music earlier month with “Dig,” the album’s opener about letting go of a love and allowing your ex-partner to move on. Funkified guitar weaves in and out of a head-nodding beat as the vocals lock on to the eerily chantable hook, “If you want, you can dig a grave for my love,” before a sidewinder solo soars. PRESS HERE to watch the official music video for “Dig.” Throughout the 8-track album, the group touches on deep life topics, such as redemption and anxiety, as well as creative takes on the afterlife and fantasy. Clockwise On Fire ends with “Trapped,” which features a head-nodding riff whipped around video game-style synth transmissions as the bass bolts down the groove. Simultaneously, ominous vocals about accepting the apocalypse and being present when the end arrives echo punctuated by swooning high register. Full track listing below.
Brian and Tim first began playing music together during middle school in the Philly suburbs, experimenting, improvising, and exploring sounds at a formative age together. After high school, life carried the musicians down separate roads. Tim co-founded Good Old War, releasing four full-length albums and four EPs in addition to touring nationally, while Brian stayed local performing in various bands. In 2017, the two reconnected and launched a Primus cover band, Los Bastardos, and by 2019 had started collaborating on original music. Even in the face of the pandemic, Tim and Brian were locked into an unbreakable groove, resulting in Clockwise On Fire. Ultimately, the duo is now welcoming everyone into their weird, wild, and wonderful musical conversation between two old friends.
Clockwise On Fire Track Listing
1. Dig
2. Fishing In The Dark
3. What Will You Forget feat. Anthony Green
4. The Fear
5. Now We’re Retroceding
6. Turtle
7. Latework
8. Trapped
