★★★☆☆
Don’t waste your time trying to figure out Claptone. Who he is, or might be, is entirely irrelevant, and he keeps it that way.
The mask stays on, and the music speaks for itself.
Charmer is the debut album from the elusive DJ/producer, and while he’s known for tracks that go bump in the night, this is a record that doesn’t chain itself to the dancefloor. Although versatile, Charmer doesn’t seem to offer too much variety – chugging slabs of melodic house peppered with plenty of synth or piano interludes reign throughout. It can’t be faulted as an expertly produced record, but Claptone seems to keep things on the safe side.
Special guests Peter Bjorn and John lend a hand on latest single ‘Puppet Theatre’, a decidedly murky offering that oozes a peculiar kind of creepy you find yourself OK with. Elsewhere, ‘Leave Your Light On’ (featuring Young Galaxy) is a pop-flavoured ditty that’s an unexpected gem. French singer Jaw pops up across the record on vocal duties; ‘No Eyes’ proves why Claptone makes the most of him on multiple tracks.
Does Claptone hit it out of the park on Charmer? Not quite. Will you find yourself dancing to this record? Most definitely.
