Some beauties remain under-the-radar, which is, to some extent, not so bad. No one had heard of Benjamin Clementine a year ago. His debut album, ‘At Least For Now’, released in January, 2015 and received limited attention. However, after one year he was on the radar of awards and Charles Anazovour.
Channeling influences such as Erik Satie and Antony Hegarty, he writes songs like singing poems. Clementine’s metier is torch songs, most of which tend to follow a unique pattern — an opening of piano chords that ebbs and flows with Clementine gliding over the top before launching into a full-throated outburst of emotion, recalling absolutely Nina Simone.
Clementine got his start busking on the Paris Metro, where he was discovered by a producer. He went on, by way of an appearance on well-known shows, to land a recording contract. His resulting debut album is by turns bold, brave, beautiful and at times quite brilliant. Clementine cites Antony Hegarty as a formative influence, and certainly there are vocal similarities. But for the most part these piano-led songs sound unique, the lonely despair of Then I Heard A Bachelor's Cry and the arresting lyricism of Condolence signalling an exciting unique talent. Please welcome this barefoot troubadour who whispers directly to our hearts.
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