Noah Clegg is one determined mofo. Although Noah has only just left school, he has been busy releasing tracks and gigs for a few years now, either solo (as Cleggy) or as part of the band Empire. Noah Clegg lives, breathes and thinks music and is thankful for every opportunity the music world can offer him. From his thoughtful social media posts, Noah is also one of the nicest folk in music.

To steal from Forrest Gump, this Cleggy June 2023 EP, Teenage Rebellion With No Escape is like a box of chocolates – you never quite know what you are going to get.

At 16 years of age, its the time to have fun and experiment with your music, and there are so many solid indie and rock rock references bubbling under this EP. When you remember Noah’s age, who knows what this lad will get up to in the years to come.

I know Noah adores the music of and is influenced by Bruce Springsteen, and his earlier release track Providence Green (a street name which caught Cleggy’s eye) has some clear sense of pedigree from the boss, but is mashed up with a liberal sprinkling of indie and a sense of fun.

One of my favourite tracks from this Teenage Rebellion shares that mix and sense, Put The Phone Down. There’s a real feel of an on-trend 80’s style with this track (trust me, I was there for every minute haha), and there’s that ear for a true rock anthem, and a catchy banging chorus.

Shakey Wakey by its very name has that keen sense of observation. The track starts out as one of those Arctic Monkey’s influenced tunes, but I’m pleased to say the AM style is quickly shaken off, and moves into a more of a rocking hybrid. I like a good Arctics tune but there’s little point reinventing the wheel, no? So it’s proper cool that Noah has referenced an AM influence, but then moved it on.

When I listen to this track, its clear Noah Clegg has the natural tendency and potential for a great rock vocal along the lines of Terry Reid or early (Free) Paul Rodgers. It will come through even further as Noah gains in experience and practice and his vocals mature further.

Hold On is another highlight of the EP as it really has that classic rock vocal style, and a nice measured sense of pace. I’m going to mention that Terry Reid again, even though few readers may know who I’m banging on about (he was offered the lead singer post of Led Zep before Robert Plant took it), there’s just such a good sense of the traditional heart of the blues, and timing with this tune.

As is often the way, the closing track of the collection is a stirring tune of grand ambition. Here with The Moors, I get perhaps echoes (haha, literally echoes with the way the vocal has been produced) of that man George Michael. Again, not a copy, but a shade of it. Noah’s vocals here are deeper, slower and more serious than on the rest of the EP, giving a further versatility.

Noah cones across as a man in a hurry, and I do sometimes wonder whether with his phenomenal song release rate that he might spread himself too thin. However, there is little evidence of this on the Teenage Rebellion EP – each track is thoughtfully set out, has a clear purity, and has something really good to offer. I’ll call it a triumph, and let’s see what’s to come.

* Words by Tiggerligger

* Images from Noah Clegg’s social media