Patrick Cleandenim – Baby Come Home
I would like to know how Patrick Cleandenim pronounces his last name. Is it “clean” “denim” (like freshly washed
jeans?) or is it a slightly French “clen-duh-nim”? I’m only curious because Baby Come Home is one of the most fascinating debut albums I’ve listened to this year and I would like to be able to talk about Cleandenim as though we are friends.
Similar to Jens Lekman, whom Cleandenim opened for two weekends ago in New York, the latter infuses his music with a plethora of vintage influences and genre-hopping prowess. Baby Come Home is a little bit lounge, a little bit jazz, a little bit old Hollywood and Big Band panache. The grandiose “Days Without Rain” pulsates like an obscure Morricone verse, orchestrating eerie vocals with a delicate string arrangement, layered over an almost Bossa Nova beat. Conversely, the lively “Rocket to the Moon” could be a cabaret mash-up of 1960s boyband harmony with indie It Kid attitude, turning a coy cheek to subtlety and restraint.
It pleases me to review an artist that is embracing a fresh approach towards his craft. Unfortunately, the only gigs listed on Cleandenim’s Myspace page are the aforementioned performances with Lekman. But fellow New Yorkers, keep an ear cocked for news of upcoming events, including the premiere of a stage show, directed by Cleandenim and described as an “epic, Biblical tragedy set in 17th Century Italy.”
Myspace: www.myspace.com/patrickcleandenim
Official Website: www.cleandenim.com
*Special thanks to Clyde for possessing the energy to attend BOTH Lekman shows and introducing me to Cleandenim.
-Lara