EP Review: Charlie Lim ‘Time/Space’

Singapore-based producer and singer-songwriter Charlie Lim is gearing up for two upcoming Australian tour dates this week, in support of his latest release ‘Time/Space’, a double-sized EP. Despite being only Lim’s second release, the EP spans genres you’d probably never expect to be recorded on one album.

‘Time/Space’ opens with a vintage feel that extends into the second track Blah Blah Blues, where we hear first Lim’s prominent vocals. The softened, stripped-back piano from the previous track, quickly heightens into a big-band chorus, extending itself to something from a 1920’s dance hall, complete with rattling snare drums and flurry of jazzy brass instruments.

The old-timey feeling changes dramatically with the folk-sounding Choices, which unfortunately struggles to build up past Lim’s stripped back vocals and soft guitar plucks. Bitter begins similarly, however manages to build up with squeaky synth riffs, and the additional of a rock-infused cymbal-heavy outro. The first half of ‘Time/Space’ is completed with relaxing, folk sounds and a further reliance on acoustic guitar, reminiscent American singer-songwriter Ryan Adams.

“Despite the regular changes in musicality creating some confusion to the unacquainted, the EP clearly exemplifies Lim’s musical talent, transcending from one genre to another, and often back again.”

Thrown into the EP’s second half, it almost feels a completely different album. Opening with subdued synthesisers in Conspiracy, elements of the first half’s bare tracks remain. However, Lim’s vocals now shine among stronger electronic beats, making you groove more than relax. This new electronic vibe continues throughout the following two tracks, Knots and Nothing More Cruel, which both focus on the depths and heights of Lim’s vocal capabilities.

I Only Tell The Truth takes an unexpected and quirky turn, with the introduction of sampling in-flight airplane announcements, the return of subdued synths and vocals, a dramatic contrasting electric guitar and crashing cymbals segment in the bridge. The instrumental Outro rounds off the album, seeing a return to the stripped-back piano from the earlier half.

Overall the EP grows significantly from track to track, but individually most songs lack any build-up to a chorus which they regularly attempt to deliver. One of the impressive elements of ‘Time/Space’ are definitely Lim’s smooth voice clearly having the ability to span many genres, going from folk and soul to electronic with ease. Despite the regular changes in musicality creating some confusion to the unacquainted, the EP clearly exemplifies Lim’s musical talent, transcending from one genre to another, and often back again.

Watch the video for I Only Tell The Truth below, and if you enjoy Charlie Lim’s genre-transcending work you best get your tickets to his gigs this week!

Charlie Lim ‘Time/Space’ Australian Tour

THU 22 SEP
The Toff In Town, Melbourne
SAT 24 SEP
OzAsia Festival, Adelaide

Get Tickets HERE