Thanks to the vinyl renaissance of the last decade, record sales by current musicians have increased exponentially - however, the true joy of going to a record store has always been something different. We go to a record store to trawl the aisles for the dusty cover that heralds a hitherto-little known gem from a distant musical era, and folk music has long been a wonderfully gifting genre for this: three fresh-faced brothers who didn’t quite achieve the ubiquity of the Everlys; an album by a smiling and smoking troubadour whose songs so vibrate with a distinct way of life that we are instantly transported back in time.

It'd be easy to pick Luke Spook as that troubadour, if it weren't for his recently released album Small Town coming out just last year. Small Town is so encapsulating of a pastoral countryside life, a wonderful ode to just slowing the pace of life down and finding contentment. It helps that Luke is speaking from a place of authenticity - the album was recorded in his small-town shed studio, and the moments captured in the new clip for 'Small Potatoes' do actually reflect parts of Luke's true daily life.

The music contained in the clip and album, then, never falls into pastiche, or becomes a caricature of an older era - Luke’s musicianship is too strong and charming for this to occur. The result is a piece of work clearly indebted to the freewheeling style and warmth of the 1960s folk of Syd Barrett or Donovan, while remaining individual and real. The time of Woodstock is perhaps where an old soul like Luke belongs but he and his music can thrive today regardless.

As Luke wanders his garden as a life-sized gnome, puffing out smoke through his wooden pipe, all the wonderfully irreverent whimsy that folk can conjure is captured. It’s shot so nostalgically as to inspire yearning from even the most hardened of city dwellers; if one was to listen to this on Smith Street, it would be difficult to resist the urge to leave Fitzroy behind at once and explore pastures new.

We let Luke explain the inspirations behind 'Small Potatoes', which you can discover below.

What’s the video about?

It’s a folkloric tale of a travelling gnome who stumbles upon a pair of magic cards and begins a quest to discover his other half (whom also possesses his other card). He realises companionship is a preferable way to travel. With the help of this other gnome, they together unlock the true power of the cards - bearing a bountiful harvest of potatoes.

Was there any particular inspiration?

I suppose a general interest in the lives and characteristics of gnomes helped with writing the storyline. My partner showed me George Harrison’s 'Crackerbox Palace' film clip and I became obsessed with it for a while so I decided I need a gnome film clip of my own.

I also had to harvest my potatoes as soon as I could and the song was called ‘Small Potatoes’ so I decided what better time to film the clip?

What’s the song about?

It’s about many things; yearning to leave and to travel, the passing of life, the mundane and the beauty of everyday. I take the term ‘Small Potatoes’ as meaning "no big deal" - I heard the term and the song wrote itself.

How did you shoot the video?

This clip was shot on 8mm film (I think) by James Kates around the farm where I spend most of my time. My sister helped me make the gnome hats and I painted the giant cards myself, my good friend Al who I play a lot of music with was the co-star.