Locust

Description

On June 9th, Berlin-based Bretford Records releases *Locust*, the new solo album from Jeff Clarke—a stripped-down, melancholic change of pace for the Canadian singer-songwriter whose raucous garage rock compositions with bands Demon's Claws, Hellshovel, and Black Lips led King Khan to dub him one of “rock n’ roll’s unsung heroes.” This time around, Clarke’s heartfelt and poetic lyrics are accompanied solely by his acoustic guitar. The minimalist, warm, and dreamlike folk sound is enhanced by the recordings themselves, which were all done in a single session, outdoors in a forest north of Berlin, Clarke’s adopted home since 2016. The idea for this intimate setting came from Lorenz Szukal, guitarist of legendary Berlin indie rock bands Chuckamuck and die Verlierer. He understood that Clarke’s songwriting, which he’d long admired, would be just as powerful when pared down and presented in a different light. As they took Szukal’s mobile recording equipment into the woods, the more naturalistic atmosphere brought forth a blend of light and shadow, fragility and resilience, pain and relief in the songs. Yet *Locust* is far more than just a study in contrasts; harmonized by Clarke’s extraordinary songwriting, the album's thirteen songs create a cohesive mood where Clarke's voice, like the soft lament of a lone wolf, blends with vivid lyrical imagery, the subtle dynamics of his guitar playing, and an almost imperceptible echo to leave the listener in a waking dream. By daring to present his unique sensibility in such a raw and elemental setting, *Locust* marks a striking new direction and reveals Clarke to be a spiritual descendant of Townes van Zandt.