We review the new EP by Clare Dunn, ahead of her performance as part of Destination Country’s ‘A Night In With’ series next Sunday.
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Clare Dunn has made a mark for herself of the country industry for her own brand of edgy and empowered rock-tinged country sound. Now, she has returned with her formidable new self-produced project – Real Thing – that again showcase her as an artist worthy of attention. Real Thing is a groovy, no bullshit EP that spans the full spectrum of the experience with romance, from ghosting (‘Unread’) to real love (‘No Reservations,’ ‘Real Thing’). The project opens with quietly swaggering ‘No Reservations’ about loving with abandon and taking the adventurous route in love. ‘No reservations / No map nobody know where we’re at / No destination no plans / Disappear wherever we land.’ It’s an exuberant celebration of love that kicks off the EP in style, before moving into the title track ‘Real Thing’ that embodies a similar sentiment. ‘I can take a million pictures of you / But they never gonna do any justice to / Sitting right here, right now looking at the real thing / Like a Montana sky and a Cali sunset.’ It’s another boisterously joyful love song that feels incredibly refreshing, couched in fresh and interesting production.
This is in contrast to following track, ‘Unread,’ a hallowed track about being ghosted. ‘Tell me is it fun keeping me in the dark / Is that what you do when you can’t choose / Is this really who you are / Baby give me something any kind of thought about us / Should I stay or go yes or no / I ain’t asking for much.’ The track though feels neither depressing nor angry, but rather incredibly empowering – a woman standing up for herself. This theme is carried on in the stunningly stripped back, gospel-tinged, ‘No Wrong Way,’ where Dunn’s vocal rises transcendent singing ‘There ain’t no wrong way to be a woman.’ It’s an emotional and raw celebration of female imperfections and is simply glorious.
The EP rounds out with the 80s-tinged, ‘We Are’ another driving and powerful joyful track about love and the unique qualities it possesses. ‘Everything I want, we are / Magic, classic, good kind of bad habit / A rocket launch into a Saturday night / I love everything we are.’ It’s a fierce and huge track, showcasing the resplendence of Dunn’s vocal and production, along with searing guitars. REAL THING is more than worthy of attention and demonstrates the power of Dunn both vocally and in her astounding artistic vision – a masterclass EP.
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