Chløë Black is the most sublime pop artist on Spaceship Earth right now. Since 2015, this exceptionally gifted singer-songwriter has been creating some of the most mesmerising music out there, marked by her mastery of melody, an often disquieting lyrical content, and an astonishing voice that can sound narcotically sultry one moment before floating up into an unearthly register that feels as though it has been channelled through her via seraphim from the Enochian realm! (Lana and Elizabeth Fraser would be proud of her vocal etherealness.)
With an aesthetic prowess to match, she conceives and directs most of her alluring videos that prove once and for all that you don’t need fast cutting when you have a visually arresting subject in front of the camera; and it’s all carried off with a super-chic sartorial style that evokes the Gallic Goddesses of Yé-yé and the timeless mystique of classic Hollywood sirens.
Black has just dropped a new eight-track EP, Strange Little Bird, featuring some of the most exquisitely beautiful songs you’ll ever hear, and, if the world still valued talent and artistry, it would be widely, and rightfully, regarded as the music release of the year.
As it is, her cult following revels in the knowledge that at present they have this musical treasure all to themselves, and fear that any major mainstream success might risk losing her forever to the unenlightened hoards. Hell, to be honest, it beggars belief how she’s not a superstar already! Still, the release has at least rekindled some fervent hope amongst the faithful that this new material might prompt some live dates in the near future. Until then, for the uninitiated, here are some highlights from her phenomenal body of work so far.
Strange Little Bird
A blissful swoonsome ode to being born not as others, that once again confirms Chloe's status as a vocalist and melodist of the highest order:
Godless
Ravishing, yet heart-wrenchingly raw, ‘Godless’ is admittedly inspired by her experiences living with PTSD. But, like a true alchemist, she creates a work of high art from the lowest of human predicaments:
Parasite
Pilled-up and pulsating, ‘Parasite’ provides the perfect accompaniment to a spooky late-night cruise through the Hollywood Hills:
‘FU4L’. Black delivers another eargasm, in retro-futurist drag, with a sentiment that is at once defeatist, self-deprecating and droll. My favourite Martian is now your favourite Martian too:
From 2021, ‘Title Track’ is an epic, bona fide, stone-cold masterpiece, heightened by a chilling bridge section that will haunt your days. Just listen to the way Black phrases the couplet between 3.04 to 3.12. It sends me every time:
‘Comme Avant,’ also from 2021. Black puts her unique stylish spin on this pitch-perfect pastiche of ‘60s French pop:
On 2020’s ‘Who Cares,’ the chanteuse spits rhymes with a fierceness and flow to rival any MC out there. Pull up a chair, if you dare, and join this Witches’ Sabbath somewhere in Bel Air:
The infectious ‘Waterbed,’ from 2018. This libidinous Lynchian lullaby is said to be a favourite anthem beloved by pole dancers in the fleshpots of LA:
From 2015, ‘27 Club.’ Dirge verses explode into bracing, soul-powered choruses, as Black contemplates joining that coterie of rock stars residing in that eternal establishment where membership is non-returnable. Mercifully, for her fanbase, as well as music lovers everywhere, she outlived that deadline.
Bonus: As well as being multi-talented, Black is also multilingual and has performed songs in over twenty different languages. Here’s her live version of ‘Tile Track’ performed entirely en français:
Essential Information
Chloe's Youtube Channel is here
Chloe's website is here
Strange Little Bird is here
