We've been charmed: A 'Charm' by Clairo album review

Clairo's discography feels like you have pulled on just the right book on the decoy shelf, opening the door to a new realm, a landscape of beauty hidden from the untrained eye. She has always possessed the gift of making the listener feel the warmth of a hug from an old friend, centered in a feeling of quiet peace, and her third studio album, 'Charm', brings about this familiar aura yet again. With an absolutely stacked album roster set for release this summer, Claire Cottrill has released a body of work that is simply a breath of fresh air, sticking to her soulful roots throughout this melancholic journey of introspection.

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As my interest in music has developed over the years, I have found cohesion as a complete project increasingly important, as opposed to a string of singles haphazardly bundled together without a story connecting them or seemingly no aforethought as to the placement of the track list. Cottrill has sold a relatable journey to us, and Charm's down-to-earth lyrics paired with distinctive instrumentals throughout the whole record have already compelled me to keep coming back to it.

'Nomad', as the album's opening piece, hits immediately with its soul-baring lyrics such as 'I'm cynical, a mess / I'm touch, starved and shameless.' It is an immediate exploration into the realities of wishing to seek a state of fulfillment in solitude, in comparison to remaining in a partnership with less to offer than what one can learn by being alone. With the typical hushed vocals distinctive to Clairo as an artist, she reflects upon the world of desiring connection, but recognising the lack of content from what somebody can offer you as a partner. The track further provides an understanding of the complexities of these perceptions, with the outcome not necessarily landing on pure happiness alone, but working to be okay with this as a preference and as growth as a person.

Despite having really found her sonic landscape with complimentary palettes between Clairo's sophomore album, 'Sling' (2021) and this new project, 'Nomad' transports the listener into Cottrill's current world and gives us an insight into her current thought processes. The opening track's bridge of ''It's always the same / Always the same / Every time I see someone new / I just think of you, nothing I do / Can help it now' tells the listeners to expect Clairo's classic relationship analysis, as she grapples with themes that will continue to be weaved throughout the album: loneliness, yearning and an uncontrollable connection to someone, regardless of its mutuality.

'Nomad' as the first track reminds us that Cottrill is still learning as a woman in her twenties, and listeners can relate to this human, candid trail of thought and introduces us to the motifs explored further in the album, leading into 'Sexy To Someone'. This track was the leading single from the album and was the perfect signifier of entering this new Clairo era, with its 70s-styled grooviness and furthering jazz-seeped melodies that we saw with the prior album.

'Sexy To Someone' has crafted the idea of seeking desire beautifully. It contrasts Nomad well as a frank call for validation in her romantic life with honest lyrics like 'it would help me out / Oh, I need a reason to get out of the house.' It showcases the emotions that we all feel from one time to another, pining for a crush or sparking the interest of somebody else, and allowing the validity of this. It accepts vulnerabiltiy, not shame. In conversation with Remi Wolf for 'Interview Magazine', Cottrill says that she questioned how many times she could say the word sexy 'before it gets kind of weird', but to 'emphasize that the word sexy is also as large-scale and open as love'. In 'Sexy to Someone', as well as the wider album, Clairo appears keen to present female sexuality and emotions in a way that women can be loved and admired, but not fetishised and objectified - as what would previously have been associated with the word sexy. Where romance is present in all realms of life in media, art, and the people around us, no, Claire - it is not too much to ask.

'Slow Dance' was a personal album standout and changes the pace set up within the previous tracks. With 'Slow Dance', Clairo deserves her flowers as she creates genuine imagery within storytelling. Lyrics like 'What's keeping you alone / And leaving after our slow dance' and 'When candles burn out and the record is faded down / I know you've got people to turn to' are compelling in their ability to capture feelings of uncertainty, questioning of where an individual chooses to find love other than herself. The instrumentals at play act almost like a lullaby, keeping an air of nonchalance and placidity, despite the analysis taking place within the lyrics. It feels authentic as we discover her personal heartaches and inclinations, learning the secrets of her heart and what she strives to understand herself.

Simplicity flows through Charm without bordering on cliché, a great strength within the album. Lyrics found in 'Terrapin' include 'We can go wherever you want / The plains, the sand, the salt, the dust', highlighting the human experience and allowing us to relate to her. This is only deepened by the placement of piano solos, transporting the listener to a place of serenity. This track is bound to be a favourite amongst long-term Clairo fans, for its similar stripped back nature to her debut album, 'Immunity' (2019) - 'Terrapin' feels as if it is the older sister of tracks like 'Alewife'.

Clairo's vocals on 'Terrapin' are a personal favourite, enriching the song's ethereal energy. 'Juna' following immediately after blends the genres explored seamlessly and extends the beauty of the musical landscape. The production feels elevated and viewed as just as important a component as the songwriting itself. Clairo, alongside producer Leon Michels, has created tracks that work well within the complete project, as well as allowing single moments to be listened to as an isolated experience without losing its effect. For me, 'Sling' really solidified Cottrill as a unique and fascinating music-maker, having built such a entrancing soundboard, and this new album continues to prove this. This is particularly the case in 'Second Nature' with laughter samples and acapella-styled 'da-dums' (which are then transitioned into the following track, 'Slow Dance'), and the mouth-trumpet in 'Juna' - Clairo's daring sonic choices make this album one-of-a-kind.

'Pier 4', as the album's closing thought, stood out immediately during my first listen as it seems like an emotional shift has taken place. It feels like waking up from the daydream that was Charm as a body of work and acts as a goodbye to the listener. The track goes beyond the yearning found earlier on in the record, and we have reached a place of quiet contemplation. I am nothing if not a lover of melancholic, slower-paced tunes that pull at your heartstrings, so 'Pier 4' was always going to be a contender for the top spot. You can't help but to draw parallels between 'Pier 4' and the opening track, 'Nomad', with shared tactile and closeness imagery in the final verse: 'And when you find you're at the pier / Playing out moments where there was a touch / With strangers touching everywhere / You wonder if he knows she's gonna run.', it's clear that there was a lot of thought into the progression between the tracks of 'Charm' and Clairo truly treats it as a deep-dive exploration of relationships and their relative feelings.

As we begin to draw this review to a close, I wish to take a moment to appreciate the world that Clairo built beyond the sonic and lyrical landscapes of 'Charm'. The album artwork and corresponding photoshoots share a dark woodland, mystical and historical theme, with deep greens and browns. The album also has a calligraphy logo, designed by David Chathas, which pairs nicely to this almost medieval colour palette and settings used throughout the album promotions. In addition to this, Clairo's tour and show posters for her residencies in LA and NY, and American tour, were designed by James Rönkkö. Despite being created by different artists, these two additional promotional materials have really added to the elegant yet feminine, historical yet timeless, auras of 'Charm' in a beautiful and aesthetically pleasing way.

This album has shown development for Clairo as an artist, honing in on the newer, more mature sound that she had begun exploring in 'Sling' and acts as another more sophisticated older sibling of her debut album 'Immunity'. I thoroughly enjoyed getting a peek into the world of Claire Cottrill and her therapeutic whispers of desire and destiny. This feels like an album that will have longevity, with the ability to pick it back up in years to come without it feeling dated or tired.

Maybe the third time really is the charm.

Words by Lilyemma & Eliz