album review
Claude
Enactor
Self-Released
February 12, 2021
Claudia Ferme debuts her first EP, Enactor, with minimalistic dream-pop sounds weaved between honest, sad storytelling. Melodramatic, introspective, and simple; these tunes pair perfectly with the frigid cold weather we’ve been having in the Windy City.
The record starts with “Screen”, a modern age anthem of existential questioning, particularly of the relationship between one’s humanity and our daily dependence on technology. The song builds slowly, allowing space for the listener to absorb the lyrical content. “Everything’s Great” continues in a depressive, angsty fashion. The core of the song builds on a soft guitar melody while Claudia laments how the world is ending, her life is falling short, and repeats that ‘everything is great’; hoping that if repeated enough times, things will indeed become great.
“In Limbo” begins with a similar, solo guitar melody under a tambourine beat, and describes a familiar sensation of the pandemic, the feeling of being stuck, of being stagnant in your own life. “Reality” and “Fantasy” are two more slow burners that purpose dueling concepts. The first being an account of what’s possible, what’s realistic to expect in the world that we live in, and coming to terms with how to handle the absurdity in life. The latter accepts this truth, and sings of her shortcomings of failing to be great. And when greatness does happen upon her, it can only be accepted as fantastical.
She ends the EP with the title track, another slow melodic guitar track that hits heavy with its lyricism. She describes herself as a sum of broken parts, striving to put something together of the pieces.
Claude presents a thematic piece of work dripping with vulnerable lyricism to the background of slow, melodic guitar riffs. Perfect for an introspective listener that wants to ponder the challenges of life, maybe even do so in the rain (or snow). For fans of Weyes Blood, Angel Olsen, and Joni Mitchell, Enactor is out now to stream on major platforms and for purchase on Bandcamp.