Steve Shiffman’s voice has a natural appeal that really ties the band’s sound together. It is confident without being arrogant, and it sounds introspective without swimming in the murky waters of self-pity. The man – together with the musicians in Steve Shiffman & the Land of No – has released a new video for their song “Clown’s Lament” (see it here), a mellow, hopeful tune from their new album "Mon Dieu," which features a surprising number of songs, and a style somewhat reminiscent of the creative garage-psych of The Flaming Lips from the "Telephatic Surgery" years. Though it does not resemble the aesthetic of the Smashing Pumpkins’ “1979”, the single (streaming below) has the same subtle, addictive coolness to it. See the band live at The Gutter in Greenpoint on September 12. – Jack McGovern
