"Doing what no one else dares in this post-hardcore haze, Clair De Lune delivers the promises of a great future led by piano melodies and a caustic dual guitar attack. The songs on Marionettes are all wrapped tightly in a passionate display of rock's hardest theories. Sure it's heavy, but the undertones are extremely melodic and there's a certain subtle finesse going on just beyond the horizon. Marionettes may be one of the best releases produced by Deep Elm Records. Perfect." - Smother

"Clair De Lune is a study in contrasts on Marionettes. Controlled fury. Beautiful cacophony. Sentimental anger. All of which proves that bands can draw from punk, emo and hardcore without falling prey to old stereotypes. Clair De Lune may have two voices screaming over each other, but it doesn't sound unnecessary. It matches the rest of the music, full of rage and urgency, in moments of both quiet intensity and loud dissonance. This Minneapolis quintet is a force to be reckoned with. A force...with piano, which sounds as fierce as any guitar, percussion or voice. This, plus well-constructed dueling vocals and complex melodies, sets Clair De Lune apart." - Dallas Observer

"Marionettes earned my respect for the simple fact that it surprised me and introduced truly fresh sounds. Clair De Lune is a perfect band for the Deep Elm roster, for their passionate playing aches with real pent up fury and angst. However, in the midst of a whirlwind of guitars and drums, the band somehow finds a place for piano. In addition, this is not a one-off obligatory appearance, but the gentle keys of Adam Roddy are heard on Relapse, Passenger View and the beautiful, palate-cleansing instrumental Twenty Threes. The playing throughout Marionettes fluctuates between near chaos and adroitly sculpted precision. Justin Burckhard and Tom Caughlan's guitar playing has a violent interplay on most tracks, such as the majestic Life On Remote and The Things They Carried. If this marks a new wave of post hardcore bands, sign me up for it, for this is not about fitting into labels. This is a band that will rattle the walls of any club they play while also dropping jaws with their proficiency." - Jersey Beat

"The world's most reputable indie rock label finds its latest treasure with Clair De Lune's amazing debut Marionettes. I can imagine the look on the faces of those over at Deep Elm when a demo from this band landed on their doorstep. Pure exhilaration and joy; that jaw-dropping feeling you just can't control. Clair De Lune is the next great chapter in a label that has brought the world more good indie rock bands than I can count. Folks might group this band with label mates Desert City Soundtrack, if not for their overt use of piano. Upon closer listen, however, this is more a straight rock band, along the lines of Jawbox and Burning Airlines. Marionettes is entrancing stuff, and unlike a lot of albums these days, manages to grab my attention from start to finish." - Chord

"They say not to judge a book by its cover, but the stunning artwork on Marionettes from Clair De Lune is only a sign of what lies inside; one of the most beautiful post-hardcore albums to date. No matter how frantic the wall of sound becomes, the band manages to keep the music absolutely beautiful. The tone is set with the opening track, played with enough energy to power the entire continental U.S. Wave after wave of blistering intensity crashes through and leads you on edge with an atmosphere that is almost symphonic. Each song is an absolute work of art, but together they create a masterpiece. Clair De Lune has raised the bar for hardcore music higher than ever thought possible, and words alone can't do Marionettes justice. It's something you'll have to hear for yourself to understand just how truly amazing it is." - Punkhardcore

"Marionettes is the best Deep Elm release EVER...and Claire De Lune is now one of my favorite bands. Experimental post-hardcore and rock in the very best way. You'll find dominating piano, synthesizer effects, driving songs and a perfect voice. Mix up all your favorite Brazil, Sparta and At The Drive-In songs and what you have is Claire De Lune. 5 out of 5!" - Punk 76

"Approaching every song as a work of art, Marionettes is a thoughtful creation from Clair De Lune. Merging expressive dual vocals, moody onslaughts and delicate melodies, there is much to applaud here, and a hell of a lot to get your teeth into. Long instrumentals and ever-changing tempos make for a hypnotizing album. The playful tug-of-war between calm and energetic charms you in. Experimental post-hardcore for the literate listener. KKKK." - Kerrang

"A little too mature and accomplished to be simply labeled as punk, but clearly drawing its inspiration from that genre, Marionettes offers a broad range of modern rock tunes with catchy hooks and direct lyrics. But instead of assaulting the listener with brash directionless guitars, Clair De Lune weaves intricate piano and keyboards into the mix, resulting in songs which feel familiar enough to be comfortable, yet fresh enough to be interesting. Life On Remote and Passenger View are loud enough to be loved by any classic rock and roller, but lyrically deep enough to hold the attentions of a modern rock aficionado. Twenty Threes and Relapse are stunning examples of the broader capabilities of Clair De Lune and a proud testament to what a band can do when it isn't afraid to let something other than the guitar take center stage." - Amplifier

"Clair De Lune offers up a punchy, contemporary blast of intricate punk rock on Marionettes that will surely appeal to fans of modern hardcore. Like those who wish to avoid nostalgia and advance hardcore beyond the sound of its heyday, Clair De Lune have included something new to the traditional vocals, wall-of-crashing-guitars, thunderously precise drums and throbbing bass dynamic. True, this combination is still present in their sound, but the addition of keyboards incorporates an unexpected musical element into the mix. Though it is often quite a subtle force, it's a melodious contribution to say the least, and one that boosts scorchers such as Sailor Beware, and Ghost of the Hill, while adding unique textures to the snaky rhythm of a song like Machinegun Lipstick. Adopting a leaner version of the musicianship of hardcore heroes like the Sleepytime Trio, Claire De Lune have created a forward-looking album in Marionettes, which is a boon to an occasionally overly-steadfast genre." - Exclaim

"Beside the prevalent piano accompaniments, Clair De Lune provides a decent mix of post-hardcore and softer rock. The music on Marionettes is a little dreamy, and the singer has a pleasant voice. They're actually pretty unique, and if you know Deep Elm, you know to expect quality." - Punk Planet

"The ambitious Marionettes from Clair De Lune produces lively and dynamic post-hardcore that stuns with an unrestrained, free-flowing beauty while making a hefty dent with plenty of impassioned noise. The band's forceful, gritty punk side, championed by the vehement multi-vocals, is combined with experimental, progressive song structures, while gorgeous melodies sooth but still retain their vigor. The addition of a piano introduces an extra element of delicacy to their highly energized arrangements and the result is nothing short of breathtaking. Suffice to say, Marionettes contains ten technical, expansive and unpredictable masterpieces that also show no lack of muscle. This is an urgent, powerful and beautiful record." - Kill The Noise

"Clair De Lune swing from extremes on Marionettes, one moment intense and chaotic, the next sailing into a sea of calm. They seem to be struggling to keep their sound from exploding and that's what makes it so appealing: it has enough brains and brawn to know when to go for the jugular. Clair De Lune is truly a post-hardcore band and I would be very stoked to have these guys go out and shut down some - if not all - of the other bands flying the hardcore banner. Those bands sound like Poison compared to this. Marionettes is brooding, intense and powerful. Go get it." - Culture Bunker

"Clair De Lune breathes rock! I wouldn't brag if they didn't have an incredible full-length in Marionettes to back it up. Trust Deep Elm to find a band that takes the best from post-hardcore and then adds some gut-wrenching melodies to the mix alongside a piano that for once is not used as a cheesy effect or a gimmick. If you like bands such as At The Drive-In then you'll just love Clair De Lune. The rewards of Marionettes are huge." - Munchkin Music

"Clair De Lune's debut Marionettes is a really thoughtful and engaging listen. Like their label mates Desert City Soundtrack, CLD use piano frenetically to put their own spin on At The Drive-In styled, recklessly-delivered, yet precisely-orchestrated post-punk. At the same time, I'm sensing traces of the DC sound and flavors of Fugazi. What makes Marionettes a record that requires close listening is the way that the buildup towards the most powerful songs at the end becomes more clear each spin. It's always on Blue Ribbon and The Things They Carried when it occurs to me that I'm listening to a really special piece of music. Give Clair De Lune the attention they require and they deliver a very satisfying piece of music." - Punk International

"Clair De Lune swears by the piano of Adam Roddy. His keys warm the opening strains of Passenger View, a preamble to the rush of guitars and drums that patter intently around the margins of the ivories. It drifts periodically into squalls of echo effects but its makeup and gang vocal breaks suggest a Fugazi influence. This would be fine, but CDL cleverly melds its references into Marionettes' overall voice, making it incredibly cohesive. Sailor Beware and Life On Remote are wild rides of elastic time signature, effects-laden guitars and urgent vocals, but they pulse on a direct piano and percussion-led rhythm that's unique and powerful. The band avoids the quiet-loud dynamic that's become such a crutch for post-hardcore, and unexpected turns of arrangement always keep things interesting. Contrasting the comparative loudness of numbers like Ghost Of The Hill is Relapse, where a hissing synthesizer highlights storms of faraway guitar before expanding the system to include halting percussion and odd harmony vocals. With its concurrently surging and dissipating energy, Relapse dares the listener to wait for the climax, which ultimately arrives in thunderous, spiky, and instrumental form. Marionettes proves a solid effort from Clair De Lune. It's making statements in the moonlight." - All Music

"Trust Deep Elm to bring something that is eclectic and utterly compelling to our stereos in Clair De Lune. Their debut Marionettes takes everything from post-hardcore / indie rock and throws in bizarre time changes and melodies alongside a glorious piano. Clair De Lune are fascinating and this is compelling stuff, simply because you don't know what will come next. Creating something of a musical masterpiece, you can't help but be drawn in. Marionettes flows tremendously well and creates mood and emotion. For example, Passenger View mixes in guitar effects with crunchy riffs, and the piano meshes beautifully with the crashing drums and tortured vocal. Then there's the stunning Relapse, which starts off beautifully, and Varicose which collides with walls of guitar and thudding basslines before slowly mellowing to become really beautiful and effortlessly sincere. Deep Elm has described this rewarding record as one of the best they will ever release. I wouldn't say they were too far off the mark." - Punktastic

"Clair De Lune has found the noise embodied by the Midwestern hardcore scene of fifteen years ago - bands like Dazzling Killmen and the Jesus Lizard who played no wave dissonance that seemed to simply explode from the center with no intention of returning - and has turned it into true symphonies. The arrangements on Marionettes are grand and ambitious, and the raucous lines within blister with intensity. These songs are searingly bright screeches of anger and agony. The Mars Volta uses similar influences in crafting its deconstructionist prog-metal sound. Clair De Lune sticks to a rougher, meaner punk edge, but the overarching visions are quite similar. Both bands want to make the most important music on the face of the earth, and damned if the boys don't come close. The songs here are densely-packed bombs, and just when you think you've escaped the carnage, another anti-personnel blast takes off your ears once again. I'm amazed by the vision and scope of Marionettes, and I'm awestruck by Clair De Lune's achievement. Simply astonishing." - Aiding & Abetting

"I'm not trying to convince anyone that Marionettes, the debut record from Clair De Lune, is the most fantastic record I've heard from a new band...but it is. These ten songs left me wondering how Deep Elm finds artists like this. Clair De Lune cleverly mixes indie rock elements, lo-fi rock attitude, passion, abandon and post hardcore riffs. Vocalists Justin Burkhard and Adam Roddy contribute a very deep and dark element to the record while the rest of the band is able to fuse electronic elements like heavy guitars riffs with melody and atmospheric keyboards. I have no idea of how big Clair De Lune will become, but they already have a place in my book for 'best of' this year." - Truepunk

"Even though they have a pianist and shared vocal duties, Clair De Lune are very much a hardcore band, and Marionettes is a slab of achingly honest violence. Chugging guitars dance and intertwine around brooding piano melodies as vocals burst through with sincerity. We are given complex hardcore songs for those passionate about music. Tracks like the superb Life On Remote build to intense crescendos while on others, the complex guitar work echoes elements of post-punk, sharing ground with the likes of Q And Not U. Marionettes grows with each listen due to the sheer range of sounds and emotions at play. Compare a sparse piano impelled track like Twenty Threes with the anthemic hardcore of Machinegun Lipstick and you'll know what I mean. To have written The Things They Carried, one of the most remarkable rock songs I've heard in a long time, is an achievement all on its own. The world of hardcore take note, the bar has been raised by Clair De Lune." - Tasty

"It's Clair De Lune's willingness to include piano and other textures in their exceptional blend of aggressive, indie-tinged hardcore that raises them above their peers. This is post hardcore that thinks outside the box, and from start to finish, Marionettes is an enticing listen with its jagged guitars and rhythm section that alternatively stutters and drives in all the right places. All this, paired with a thick sounding production job that reveals hidden depths around every corner, makes Marionettes utterly worthy of your attention." - Big Cheese