Taking no unnecessary time to beard the lion, "Charm" starts with the gentle string-driven balladry of "Nomad" before immediately introducing itself to you and their ears with the kind of organic textures and fluid melodies that some whodunnit setting would do well to be accompanied by. Lead single "Sexy to Someone" emerges as a breezy, jazz-inflected meditation on desire and self-conception while maintaining an unassuming allure as it folds into familiar, gentle, elastic Clairo vocals. "Second Nature," meanwhile, plays with wiry, rhythmic piano and clarinet flourishes, a sign of her continued development as an arranger and lyricist.
Over the album's 11 tracks and 38 minutes, Clairo strikes a deft balance between delicate vulnerability and steely artistry. Songs like "Terrapin" and "Add Up My Love" weave in elements of jazz and folk and read as if made for an intimate live performance rich in texture but beautifully produced. Whether luxuriating in the sun-dappled nostalgia of "Slow Dance" or practicing quiet self-assurance in the album's closing notes, Charm encourages you to get lost in its world of dreamy tones and genuine feelings.
A true testament to Clairo's evolution, Charm is an experience. It encapsulates the breadth of youthful desire and the understated ingredient of growing up, cementing Clairo's position as one of indie music's most arresting voices.