- For those who heard it, Clarence Clarity's debut album was a revelation. No Now fused 2000's r'n'b aesthetics with an experimental sensibility and endlessly layered production. Each song was drenched in rich instrumentation, shimmering guitars and effect-laden vocals expertly draped over a pop frame for twenty mind-bending tracks.
Clarence has kept himself busy since No Now's late-2015 release, pumping out a steady stream of singles, hidden songs, and even the cleverly titled SAME EP, consisting of five identical tracks. While these releases were consistently fantastic, I couldn't help but worry his eventual album would end up as nothing more than a glorified singles collection.
Thankfully, I never should have doubted Mr. Clarity. Although almost every track on THINK: PEACE has received a prior release, Clarence masterfully remixes and shapes each one into an incredibly cohesive final product that's far more impactful than its discrete parts.
Naysayer Godslayer gains an extended, transitional outro to become Naysayer, Magick Obeyer; Fold 'Em's guest rapper SHADI now finds himself accompanied by Puerto Rican electronic musician Carlos Rivera for a lush ambient back-half, and the aforementioned SAME re-appears as a strange, deformed mashup, re-purposing themes from throughout the album. These transformations not only preserve each single's initial impact, but expertly weave them together, forming a powerful overall experience where not one track feels out of place.
This feat is made even more impressive considering Clarence's deft traversal of his varied influences. While '80's pop and millennial r'n'b are consistent reference points, tracks often jump styles at breakneck pace, sandwiching noisy hip-hop passages between heartfelt power-balladry, or interrupting choruses with chaotic sound collage.
Although these sections showcase infallible production prowess, it's really Clarence's songwriting and vocal talents holding everything together. Each hook is backed by a fantastic chord progression and enveloped within luscious instrumentation. Despite my inherent dislike of gratuitous melodies and overly-dramatic crooning, every single one of Clarence's refrains has managed to firmly cement itself in my mind, threatening irrational urges to burst into song on each listen.
Honestly, it'd be remiss of me to acknowledge THINK: PEACE as anything other than a modern pop masterpiece. Clarence has managed to distill his fragmented array of influences into a set of immensely catchy and addictive pop bangers, packed full of creative ideas which keep me coming back for more.
Personally, I still prefer the more r'n'b tinged No Now, but I get the feeling Clarence wasn't trying to top himself, rather he tries to push his songwriting abilities to their limits without compromising experimentation. In my opinion, he's done all that and more. You know an album's something special when practically every track could function as a lead single.
If you're a fan of pop, this album is a love letter to the genre, combining the unabashed joy of a Carly Rae Jepsen song with intricate production akin to Bjork's finest moments. Want to take a trip into pop's strange, alternate future? Clarence Clarity is waiting with open arms.
- Boddhi Farmer.