Jace Cameron - “Cashmere”

Cashmere has been prized for centuries, and for good reason. It's soft, expensive, notoriously delicate, and requires a level of care that suggests it should probably have its own insurance policy. Enter Jace Cameron, who has decided that the world's most luxurious knitwear deserves its own love song. After falling rather spectacularly for “Easy,” I was curious where he'd take us next. I did not expect to the sort of boutique where nobody displays the prices and the sales associate offers you sparkling water before you've even touched anything. I'm interested. Slightly intimidated by the merchandise, but interested.

“Cashmere” is all soft edges and quiet confidence, with Cameron's airy vocals drawing you into a song about wanting to be close to someone without quite knowing how much closeness is safe. There's hesitation in the verses, a little impatience, and the rather lovely admission that he might be too soft for his own good. But he doesn't seem interested in toughening up. “Some call it desperation, I call it mine,” he sings, which strikes me as a wonderfully self-possessed way to acknowledge your feelings while declining everyone else's commentary. And when he sings about memorizing every charm, the luxury metaphor begins to feel less about expense and more about the value we place on being known.

In our review of “Easy,” I wondered whether Jace Cameron had been assembled in a laboratory, complete with porcelain features and a voice that seemed to defy gravity. I'm pleased to report that the experiment continues to yield fascinating results. There's a similar sense of weightlessness here, although “Cashmere” brings things a little closer to earth, wrapping its uncertainty in something warm enough to make vulnerability feel like an indulgence. The whole thing has the appeal of an extravagant purchase you know you'll have to look after. Hand wash only. Lay flat to dry. And whatever you do, don't let someone careless get their hands on it.A little luxury looks good on him.