Clementine shares heart and humour on delightful EP Garden Shed
Last week, Naarm/Melbourne singer-songwriter Clementine dropped his debut release - the intimate EP Garden Shed.
Five tracks of reflective folk-rock, the EP wears it’s influences and inspirations of it’s sleeves - and doesn’t shy away from heart and humour.
A truly maturing songwriter, Clementine’s Garden Shed delivers, and promises to carve his own path in Australiana and folk-rock.
Lead single Silent Arrows opens the project - a delicate, Neil Young vibe. Painting a portrait of a city in motion and a soul laid bare. Gentle slide guitars floats under a brilliant vocal performance packed with humble passion.
Follow up track Dust has a blissfully light touch, complete with soft tambourine and minimal chorusey piano. Refrains of “Only you” solidify themes of solidarity, partnership and solace.
At the centre of the record is my personal favourite track Fifty Years - a marvellous reflection on a relationship and it’s future potential - an absolutely gorgeous and at times hilarious song. A steady picking banjo holds the time while moments of clarity shed light on a spacious arrangement of piano, guitar and brushed drums.
Title track Garden Shed - a collaboration with old friend Sammy Luka’s Sundown Band - is a humble Emitt Rhodes, Beatle-esque duet. A song that should play gently as the sun sets on an autumn evening, the music and prose meet in a place that feels just like home.
Closing track I Still Miss Someone feels like a tribute to many classic records ending with a low-fi demo style number, yet the contemplative mood somehow doesn’t feel depressing - it inspires. Like a call to action , the song is an honest admission of humanity and love.
Overall a full heart with a soft touch, Clementine has blessed us with a brilliant set of songs - and one can only wonder what else is in store down the line for fans of emotionally honest singer-songwriter music,
Check out the EP here.