For her debut album, Clara Cloud proposes a fairy-tale journey in The Woods. Review of an absolutely enchanting record.
THE WOODS – CLARA CLOUD
Pick up a four-leave clover in the middle of an immense forest and in doing so, you’re crossing the door to the faerie realm. The Queen of faeries is Clara Cloud, and she welcomes us into The Woods with the mysterious and magical Clover. It’s this magic and whimsical attitude of the Canadian artist that grasped my attention from the get-go. It’s a wonderfully efficient hook and the introduction to this first album, holding a strong concept. Through The Woods, Clara Cloud wants to do a queer retelling of the myth of Artemis, Apollo and Orion. The spell is cast by passionate and dream-like songs as much as the polished videos made for them.
In a delicate folk-indie style, Clara Cloud unveils her light, hushed and yet powerful voice. The production is as fine as it is cinematographic. On Little People, a glimmering piano summons the setting that keeps growing, slowly moving, with the notes of Golden Boy. It becomes my favourite instantly thanks to the shivering progression of Cloud’s vocals and vibrant backing vocals, rather solemn. Weathervane, which is up next, brings a bit more sun in this autumnal season. It’s rather logical as each track is meant to echo seasons, whilst taking inspiration from pop and Celtic traditional music.
Although it’s placed at the heart of winter, The Archer is a dazzling track, running across the forest with elegance and mastery, when Lay Me Down, with its electro layers, is colder. Again, the atmosphere gets warmer with Orion. On top of the reference to the season, Cloud’s inner child is the core of the record, and it’s felt through the generosity and compassion she holds in her songwriting. This is why closing the record with The Woods is so good, confirming how much of a shelter this place is through its sounds. A divine place, loving, caring and rich. With The Woods, Clara Cloud proposes a real immersive and emotional experience. Don’t miss it.
