Soul-revelation, passionate minimalist
'At least for now' that's the excellent debut by this 'French Brit'. Despite the CD title, it would seem that the enduring Benjamin Clementine is a stayer (who already sold out his visit to Les Nuits, for example).
A few quotes from Humo:
'Benjamin Clementine is a man to be very envious of. Overflowing with charisma, rock solid voice, virtuoso pianist. Grew up in France and now lives in London. The bard performs in bare feet, seated behind his keyboard in a designer suit, with a bare torso under the thick woolen fabric – for all the world to see. He can have it. That too.'
Clementine's music lies somewhere in the suburbs of both jazz and modern pop. Sometimes he is compared with Antony Hegarty or Nina Simone, but don't let yourself be confused by that.
Richly exaggerated... even if, just like that of those two, his music is draped around his impressive discourse. Not that you can complain about diversity: aside vocals & piano there are strings, electronica, percussion and some other stuff ready to provide the whole sparsely but effectively with colour.'