Edmonton 24-year-old Clementine has had a rollercoaster ride from homelessness and busking in Paris to an appearance on Later, a major-label deal and praise from Paul McCartney. His fascinating but flawed debut benefits from the bravery and adventurousness Clementine honed while tackling audiences aboard Parisian trains. Opener Winston Churchill’s Boy remodels the former PM’s famous speech into a song about his turbulent upbringing: “Never in the field of human affection / Had so much been given for so few attention.” Channeling influences such as Erik Satie and Antony Hegarty, Clementine is reminiscent of Kevin Rowland in that he sounds as if he is singing from the gut, and because he has to. If only he had Rowlands’ economy: mannered vocal flourishes complicate the melodies when what’s needed is simplicity. The addition of syrupy strings and pedestrian drumming further dilutes the impact of his raw talent. However, when he performs unadorned, melodies dripping from his fingertips, and letting fly from the heart, his voice is difficult to forget.
