EP Review: North

North is a literal breath of fresh air from Claudia Jardine, and it’s very ably assisted by producer, multi-instrumentalist, and backing vocalist Taavi Paomets.

The title track North leads the charge, setting the expectation of clear yet lush production values for the five-track offering from Jardine. The first two tracks reminded me somewhat of Shona Laing – plenty of punch and a delicious amount of gravel in the vocals.

The highlight for me was Erase Me. This is an outstanding pop track, every bit as good as anything by Ed Sheeran (the artist I was strongly reminded of when listening to it). It’s got a great hook and a driving rhythm and a memorable message. Terrific stuff!

Jardine’s voice is gorgeous. Lyrics lead the way and every word is delivered with clarity. The true hero of the EP for me, however, is the production. It’s surprising and refreshing and demonstrates an adept handling of dynamics. The use of percussion is delightful, including claps and clicks from Jardine and harmonics and string squeaks from Paomets.

North is a high quality offering that packs a punch far above its EP weight class. I really look forward to hearing more from Jardine and Paomets.