The cognitive dissonance between our personal comforts and collective needs, the loving of the place and the hatred for the empire—these are the exact things Clifford’s Golden Caravan is about. After a half decade of establishing themselves as one of the most promising bands in Boston’s underground scene, Clifford have hit their stride. Inspired equally by local legends like Pile and Horse Jumper of Love and groups carrying forth the torch of Heartland rock (Big Thief, Waxahatchee), Golden Caravan merges the burnished, melodic folk of Clifford’s past recorded work with the feral force of their live shows. It’s a work of paradox, where the harmonic feedback is a thing of beauty and the acoustic guitars bludgeon with blunt force. Album features backing vocals from Mei Semones, Paper Lady, and Sweet Petunia. Golden Caravan is the Boston quartet’s second album, and first to be released via Sipsman (Katie von Schleicher, Krill, Animal Hospital, Truth Club, Paper Castles). RIYL: Duster, Unwound, Ovlov, Pinegrove, Lucero. Clifford have toured with Merce Lemon, and played shows with Speedy Ortiz, The Brazen Youth, Florry, Robber Robber, Together Pangea, Lily Seabird, Truth Club, and more.[info sheet from distr.]