And I Have Been

Idioma disponible: inglés

After releasing two albums in 2014 and 2017 and then taking a role in Denis Villeneuve's Dune, for a while the enigmatic English pianist-singer Benjamin Clementine seemingly fell off the music radar. Like many artists, he's now releasing an album entirely conceived during the height of the Covid pandemic, taking inspiration from the upheaval it caused in terms of morale and social life. Whilst these sad, strange years caused many to turn inward, Benjamin Clementine has instead chosen to focus on escape, fantasy and positive energy. And I Have Been is soberly arranged and much less lyrical than his two previous releases, with the composer taking a decidedly lighter approach and freeing himself from overly obvious references (Nina Simone, for example, who’s often imitated but never equalled).

After ‘Residue’ (the opening track, which sounds like new wave, baroque gospel—perfect for warming up the vocal chords), he goes on to write a series of freewheeling, uninhibited songs. His unclassifiable style takes inspiration from folk and soul, as well as from Erik Satie and Benjamin Britten, with light, breezy arrangements (incorporating strings and choirs) that are rare to hear in today’s song. Whatever the musical genre, Benjamin Clementine writes songs, first and foremost, to express emotions and thoughts. Brave but never arrogant, he writes complex yet clear melodies, which are sometimes reminiscent of Divine Comedy, Sufjan Stevens, the world of cabaret, as well as chamber music. All of this is topped off by his unique, bright and warm vocals. © Stéphane Deschamps/Qobuz