(4 / 5)
Flo Perlin’s third album, “Clay” is a lovely job. The 10 self-penned songs straddle Joni Mitchell territory; seamlessly dipping into jazz, folk and soul genres with an addictive and soothing quality. She is a very talented artist and this record an essential listen if you seek quality, class and something fresh to listen to.
The contemporary singer-songwriter from London with Iraqi and Belarusian heritage, has been hailed as a ‘true storyteller’ by BBC Radio 6. The songs on “Clay” explore themes such as family history, human nature and being good to yourself.
Flo released her debut album “Cocooned” in 2017, the EP “Stories” in 2019, a single “Life Lives Inside” in 2021 and her sophomore album “Characters” in July 2021, which secured her an international audience, with her single “Baghdad” gaining more than 4.4 million streams on Spotify.
That profile led to a string of high profile gigs and festivals throughout 2022, including Cambridge Folk Festival, Wilderness, Celtic Connections and Americana Festival, plus shows at Omeara, EarTH Hackney and The Green Note, as well doing her first UK Tour. Flo was invited to do a live performance and interview on BBC Radio 2 for the Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe.
Flo Perlin began learning the cello at the age of five, later falling in love with the guitar when her Colombian teacher Cesar Rodriguez-Duran (the same person who taught Michael Kiwanuka) introduced her to the world of Bossa Nova, which influenced her own finger picking style.
Combining this experience with a diverse range of influences from artists such as Zero 7, Laura Marling, Buena Vista Social Club, Suzanne Vega and Erykah Badu, enabled Flo to develop an accomplished talent, further enhanced by a unique vocal style.
Clay itself is a metaphor for the human capacity to adapt and adjust to different experiences and challenges. Just like clay, we mould and change shapes. This album reflects Flo’s personal experiences of belonging and growth.
The album track “Mother Tongue” is a winner; reflecting on feelings of belonging and how even though the language of Flo’s ancestors was not passed down through generations, she inherited a way of expressing herself through music, conveying how we as descendants inherit their traits regardless.
“Friend Of Mine” explores how we can be our own best friend or our worst enemy, expressing the importance of being good to the person you see in the mirror. “Part Of Me” is a song about how our great loves stay within us. From Flo’s experience of parting ways with a lover, this song articulates the initial feelings in a relationship of losing a part of yourself.
Composer Kaidi Akinnibi features on “Part Of Me”. Akinnibi has a multi-faceted outlook on music, as learned from the sounds of Kinetika Bloco, Jazz Warriors and his explorations in the vibrant UK music scene. This shows in the eclectic variety of artists he works and writes with, including Tom Misch, Wizkid, Black Midi, Celeste, and many more.
Flo plays acoustic guitar and takes lead vocals across the album; joined by Duncan Thornley on synth’, electric guitar and percussion, Adam Hayes on drums and percussion, Jasper Osborn on electric and double bass, Matteo Busti on electric guitar, Simeon May on bass clarinet and tenor sax’, Tim Gardener on piano, synth’ and violin.
Ellie Consta on violin, Irene Katsenelson on viola, Simone Seals on cello, Julia Maria on cello – and guest, Kaidi Akinnibi on co-lead vocals and soprano/tenor sax’ on “Part Of Me”. The album produced by Flo Perlin and Duncan Thornley.
Words: Christopher Weston
Photo [red top]: Christopher Andreou
Photo [black top]: Sequoia Ziff
(1 / 5) ‘Dull Zone’
(2 / 5) ‘OK Zone’
(3 / 5) ‘Decent Zone’ (4 / 5) ‘Super Zone’
(5 / 5) ‘Awesome Zone’
