Clor

Barry Dobbin and Luke Smith originated the electro-rock outfit Clor while running the South London club night Bad Bunny. The pair already spun an eclectic mix spanning reggae, electronic sounds, and pop, yet they aimed to weave original material into those sets, prompting them to track songs at Smith’s apartment. They soon drew in additional musicians and crew members connected to Bad Bunny, expanding the project into a five-piece. Dobbin chose the name Clor for its simultaneous evocation of raw, primitive, and futuristic qualities. The group cut a demo titled Welcome Music Lovers specifically to secure gigs elsewhere, but rapid word-of-mouth led to a Parlophone contract after merely six performances. Late in 2004 the label issued Welcome Music Lovers as Clor’s first EP. Recording of the band’s self-titled 2005 debut—preceded by the singles Love + Pain and Outlines—remained centered at Smith’s apartment, yielding the same quirky, danceable character. Creative differences prompted the group’s dissolution in spring 2006, shortly before the album’s scheduled American release.