Clifford – Love Is Real (2021)
While ‘Quick Quick Slow’ touched on animal magnetism and connections in relationships, our first taste of Clifford was the contrasting emotions of ‘Paradox’. It is the edge of the latter that is coming back in his single ‘Love is Real’ as he balances reality and dreaming while falling in love. With an acoustic tone, he considers the want of love versus the truth about being in love.
Using intimate flows, Clifford delves into personal thoughts and frustrations as he looks to express his frustrations with dating during a pandemic. With a delightful ambiguity, the single plucks at thoughts we have all had at some point during relationships. While ambiguous, there is a clear feeling to the track whether you want to take it literally or figuratively.
‘Love Is Real’ has a really open and authentic feeling to the melody. The acoustic guitar-driven melody is earthy and tender adding power to the vocals and lyrics. Clifford brings a touch of folk to his pop sensibilities which is wonderful to hear and again showcases the melting pot that is his sound. While the melody might seem simplistic at times, the deep beats that roll like thunder and light bell tones add texture and depth. The movement of the guitar also straddles the line between simplistic and complex add a whole new dimension to the track.
This stripped-back acoustic melody allows his vocals to really shine through as he pulls you into the ambiguity of the lyrics. His vocals have a light scratch to them that slides into utterly smooth flows. His performance is emotive as he falls into musings of feelings and love. While there is a soft happiness to his vocals this twirls into melancholy and questioning. The contrasting of these emotions is masterfully handled and floats to the delicate tones of the melody. The ambiguity he was looking for in this track has been achieved in such a way that you don’t even realise it is there. This is due to the lyrics being so easy to connect with regardless of the relationships you have experienced.
Clifford enhances a stripped back melody and ambiguous lyrics with a powerfully emotive vocal performance in ‘Love is Real’. A masterful single, it combines acoustic stylings with relatable feelings that play dreams against reality without you even realising it. Clifford’s vocals are stunning on this track as he smoothly slides into your ears and plucks at your emotions.
