"Clerkin's album is a bolt of exultation, packed with songs that are catchy, feel-good and lush with hope."
Luke Clerkin's debut album, Orpheus, was released on January 31st this year. Clerkin is an artist who has found his voice, and over the album's 12 songs he invites us to join him on a journey that is both uplifting and unfeigned.
Wow Wow Wow is an appealing first track, one that sets the tone for the rest of the album; its memorable chorus is complemented by a beautiful arrangement of strings and guitar, instruments that are used consistently throughout the various songs.
Bríd Lyons surfaces at points over the ablum's course; as a singer who's deeply rooted in the Irish traditions, her vocals go well alongside Clerkin's on tracks such as Over Time. She also features on Home, a twee but heartfelt song that pays tribute to the city that helped Clerkin to launch his career.
The chorus of Gloria is one that I haven't been able to shake from my head - the deceptively simple "Gloria, I'm falling for ya" is one that you'll be humming into the early hours of the morning as you try to fall asleep.
Clerkin is not afraid to let his vulnerabilities show through his lyrics; his voice is airy but can switch gears to sound impactful when it needs to; at times, he is vaguely reminiscent of James Blunt. I found myself enchanted by the poetry in songs like Ricochet: "Is this just a chemical reaction? [...] The law of my attraction."
Overall, Orpheus is well worth a listen. The choruses are easy to sing along to and the tracks are consistent in their tone and delivery; if you like one song on the album, you'll like them all. Clerkin's album is a bolt of exultation, packed with songs that are catchy, feel-good and lush with hope. Check it out on Spotify and be sure to give Luke a follow on Instagram.
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