PREMIERE: Josh McClorey Releases Puffin Clovers Video

Like most of us, Josh McClorey - yer man who used to play the guitar in The Strypes, there, we've mentioned it, let us speak of it no more - felt, in one way, that he didn't do much in 2020 apart from sit around, scratch his arse, and wait for the world to come back. Unlike most of us, he did a fair bit more than that.

As a collaborator, he helped both Yungblud and Paul Weller - there's a dinner party I want an invite to - score number one albums. He contributed the music to 'Strawberry Lipstick' - a right banger, as the kids probably say - on Yungblud's Weird! and traded guitar licks with The Modfather - not for the first or last time either - on 'More', one of the several belters which constitute Weller's very good indeed On Sunset.

That would have been enough for most of us, and If I had done any of that, I'd be parading around the streets in a t-shirt with "Look, It's Me!" printed on it, beside an arrow pointing towards my massive head. McClorey's got a bit more class than that though. Rather than strutting about the place, he released his first three solo singles, getting heads nodding as well as confounding expectations, given his last incarnation.

First there was 'Everything Was Easy', then the excellent 'Crazy', and then, just before Christmas, third single 'Puffin Clovers'. There was also an "interesting" cover of the Joan Armatrading "classic" 'Drop The Pilot', which is also out there for you, if you want it.

Hot Press is only delighted to present to you now the premiere of the 'Puffin Clovers' video clip - put together with consummate talent and know-how by Henry Pearce. Young Joshua also got a dig out from the powers that be, for as he says himself, ”I’m really thankful for the funding support from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sports & Media for this track.”

The clip certainly speaks to my lockdown experience - stumbling into the kitchen in the bits, eating everything in front of me, listening to Bowie and The Boomtown Rats while two women fight in the background*, and then retiring to the bath with a Jamaican Woodbine. Good times. Proper tune n' all. Nice work, chief.

Keep yourself abreast of all McClorey-related developments by following Josh on Instagram.

(*I'm joking of course, I haven't seen an actual, real-life, human woman since last March.)