Often times when a musician offers support for a diverse collection of bands, they retreat to a more standard sound as a personal escape. For Shawn Clarke, a TO singer/songwriter that has worked with Olenka & The Autumn Lovers and Timber Timbre, that retreat results in some Paul Simon-ish folk melodies that invite the listener to feel like a part of the experience.
On a casual glance you might see that Clarke cites influences like Tom Waits, Radiohead and Wilco and get some preconceived ideas about his desired sound or the amount of experimentation he brings to the table. Truth be told, I don’t really hear any of their influence (other than the name drop on Sick Song) and think people will find more similarities with modern pop-folker Matt Costa (just listen to Hurt Before). Clarke prefers to work with more traditional acoustic sounds, and even when he moves into a moody atmospheric vibe (I’ll Miss You When You’re Gone is a good example) he doesn’t push the limits enough to lose the listener.
That’s not a bad thing, it just is what it is. Sure, Clarke isn’t breaking much new ground on this release but the beauty of creating enjoyable acoustic numbers we can simply enjoy is that he doesn’t have to. Finger picking guitar, banjo and nice sunshine filled vocals fight the steel and sadness that permeate his thoughts and support from many of his talented friends (Olenka, Nick Zubeck and Wilderness of Manitoba to name a few) give this effort a professional, enjoyable feel. Even though he can stand on his own – the Teitur inspired Behind You and Secret Bear prove that – he is smart enough to add new layers or female harmonies on the lovely Sick Song and Empty House to flesh out his confessions and keep the listener engaged.
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MP3:: Shawn Clarke – Behind You
MYSPACE:: http://www.myspace.com/shawnclarkemusic