EVERYTHING WAS GREEN - A Review

Photo Credit: Michelle Grace Hunder

Those in need of a new captivating, emotional yet carefree RnB project need to wait no longer - Forest Claudette’s latest offering, Everything Was Green, is here to fill that (highly specific) void. This new EP is like a subdued kaleidoscope, spinning lazily in low gear, throwing up plumes of colour in its own time. It’s a strong step forward for the Naarm / Melbourne artist, a sophomore record that’s more tightly choreographed than its predecessor and proves that Claudette is more than worthy of our attention.

There’s a warmth across the EP, no matter the subject, that cements it as an absorbing listen. You can seamlessly slip between focusing on the lyrics and just being immersed in the soundscape, and not miss a beat; the mood for each is all-encompassing. On top of excellent production, which walks a fine line between being a focal point and a musical cushion, the vocal processing is content to take it easy where needed. It complements Claudette’s smooth vocal timbre and adds stylistic value without muddying the emotional impact. This is a great move because the hooks here are addictive.

As a bonus for Apple Music users, the Dolby Atmos / Spatial Audio mixing adds a layer of immersion that fits this EP like a glove.

That’s the technical stuff out of the way, now into the rest of this absolute gem of a release.

There’s a growing sense of artistic maturity on display - this being Claudette’s second EP (End of February notwithstanding), and there’s a subtle but noticeable bump in the quality of the songs. Not to say that the preceding EP was bad by any means, because it, too, was a great listen. It’s just that the songs on Everything Was Green feel more complete, and more considered, gradually shedding the vaguely sporadic tone that early bedroom-pop style releases often have. You’d be forgiven for thinking that Claudette had been around mainstream releasing a lot longer than just a few years.

The balancing act of playfulness and emotional sincerity can be a hard one to pull off, but for a burgeoning talent like Claudette, it appears to be effortless. It's a great series of songs, with a few standout moments that suggest an artist ready to grow even further beyond his station. For the best hint at what’s ahead for Claudette, pay particular attention to High Vis Teeth and Violence. Both of them will bury themselves in your head in such a way that they can’t be removed with anything short of a jackhammer. The latter in particular is a personal favourite, heartbreaking and tinged with a sense of disbelief. I could throw more wanky adjectives around, like “lush”, and “elegiac”, but it’s best to just listen for yourself and lose yourself in the harmonies and tear-stained string section.

There’s a roguishness present that spars comfortably with Luke Christopher and a surprising fragility that echoes Michael Kiwanuka’s quintessential opus, Love & Hate, which is very, very high praise. Listening to this EP feels like one long, slow, teased-out dopamine hit, surrounded by blankets of synths and pillows of lazy beats. Better still, it’s full of hints and what’s next for Forest Claudette.

Everything Was Green - EP is the kind of early-career release that leaves you genuinely holding out for a feature-length album, with room to breathe and experiment with concepts and story. It raises the Melbourne singer/rapper to a higher artistic level with what might be the local music release of the month. Listen to the EP and be sure to keep an eye on Forest Claudette, because his momentum is only going to build from here.