Listen: Sway Clarke II – “Secret Garden”

Berlin-via-Toronto singer Sway Clarke II has dropped his second release, the faintly euphemistic “Secret Garden”, a comparatively light-hearted follow-up to his brooding debut, “I Don’t Need Much”.

Elastic synths bend and drone over a playful harpsichord melody that finds Sway persuading his girl that despite not being the only “rose in his garden” it’s all good, because he’s “got love to give”. It’s to the credit of the production that despite recycling one of music’s most overused tropes, the cut at no point feels tired, thanks in no small part to an unadorned beat that leaves the focus on his mellifluous vocals and urging tone. He’s not the kind of guy you’d say no to, even if you maybe should.

His background as a songwriter still hangs heavy over the track. Like his previous effort, “Secret Garden” sounds like it could have been written by Frank Ocean or Miguel, RnB lotharios to whose crown Sway undeniably has a claim. At any rate this should hardly be read as criticism. In spite of having a recognisable sound the song is far from generic, rather a three and a half minute charm offensive that would do his influences proud.