Cautious Clay, “Puffer” | Track Review 🎵

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Cautious Clay both surprises and captivates on his short, unique indie-pop single, “Puffer.”

[otw_shortcode_dropcap label=”“I’” size=”large” border_color_class=”otw-no-border-color” shadow=”shadow” square=”square”][/otw_shortcode_dropcap]m puffy on the outside / On the inside, I’m a slow drive.” Hmm, never did I expect to be listening to let alone reviewing a single about a puffer fish. 🎙 Cautious Clay is an interesting artist, something first discovered on 💿 Deadpan Love, released in 2020.  Because he’s unique and sadly, underrated, I was curious to see what he was serving up on 🎵 “Puffer”.  The results are positive – a surefire vibe that’s somewhat odd, throwback, alternative, and ultimately, infectious.

Cautious Clay – who I’ll sometimes refer to as CC – penned the two-and-a-half-minute “Puffer” alongside 🎼 ✍ 🎛 Andrew Wells and 🎼 ✍ Anthony Rossomando.  CC and Wells handle production.  Starting with the production and sound, “Puffer” is nothing short of intriguing.  CC presented himself as an R&B artist on Deadpan Love but moves well beyond the realm of R&B on “Puffer.” This is alternative through and through, with iTunes correctly categorizing it as indie-pop. It’s a contrast for CC – an about-face – but it works brilliantly.  Lyrically, Clay and his fellow writers do a nice job of characterizing the ‘puffer fish’, but more importantly, capturing introspection and reflectiveness.  Despite the clever verses, it’s still the chorus that’s the centerpiece in all its glory:

“’Cause еveryone’s alone

But it’s the meaning that you want (Meaning that you want)

Like a flower in the sun (Sun)

Now I just wanna grow, grow, grow

Broad and wide, wide, wide.”

Final Thoughts 💭 

Have I already mentioned I didn’t expect to be listening to or reviewing a single about a puffer fish? I’m glad I did though as Cautious Clay delivers a truly unexpected, unique single with 🎵 “Puffer”.  He sings well, the songwriting is intriguing, and the production and sound are excellent.  Vibe maybe overused, but “Puffer” is one!

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🎙 Cautious Clay • 🎵 “Puffer” • 🏷 Cautious Clay • 🗓 6.15.22

[📷: Brent Faulkner, Cautious Clay, The Musical Hype, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]