In the 1980s, Sade's brand of elegant pop/R;B owned the charts, making the Nigerian/British chanteuse one of those artists whose very name became the adjective to describe their sound. After an eight-year layoff, Sade and her core band (and long-time producer Mike Pela), are back with an album that is both a stunning reaffirmation of her artistry and a solid soulful collection. Perhaps the best thing that can be said about Lover's Rock is that it picks up where Sade left off, meaning that you will hear no cool beats or hot hired hands or hip-hop cameos.It wasn't what some had expected after so long a time but it is exactly what it was meant to be.
It is a sumptuous meal seasoned with love and emotion. Sade gives us a portrait of inner strength anyone who has ever loved, and lost, knows all to well. For the most part this is about holding on to hope for love and not becoming jaded by those who hurt us. Midway between the seductive vocal styles of Billie Holiday and Roberta Flack, Sade's voice is still as intimate, mournful and moving as ever.And 'Lovers Rock' offers a more stripped down, subtle backdrop for her sweet soul warbling, while still maintaining that 'coffee-table' sound.
In fact, so relaxing and Sunday morning is it in feel, that each copy should come with a scratch'n'sniff espresso'n'bagels sleeve and the newspaper of your choice. The name of the album “Lover’s Rock” is a misleading title because there is not a single track on this CD that could be considered even close to rock. This relaxing album will not quicken any pulses or raise anyone’s blood pressure unless you play it as background music on a hot date.Hip-hop backbeats and acoustic guitars dominate the mix as Sade’s voice twists and turns throughout the album. The sound and production on Lovers Rock are the album’s standout features. With a sound that is similar to the production of current R&B artists such as Brian McKnight and Babyface, this recording’s sound is tight and clear.
The drum sounds, the deep, low bass and the acoustic guitar licks are nothing new to R&B, but Sade’s band have found a way to pull this off with a style of their own. When played at low levels as background music, Sade’s voice loses its presence, but the music still carries the songs.At higher volumes, Sade’s vocals come to the front so that every breathy note and her thick backup tracks can be easily heard. This genre of music is a perfect showcase for her well-recorded vocals. There are rarely more than three or four instruments playing simultaneously at any point on the recording and this openness provides a large stage for Sade. On the track "The Sweetest Gift," only an acoustic guitar provides the accompaniment for Sade’s vocals.
It would have been easy for Sade to have a 'guest' or two on this album but she has kept not only the integrity of her music but her own personal integrity in tact.Lovers Rock" is a mix of African and Caribbean styles that has some great moments. It also includes what will surely become one of the most requested and fondly loved songs in her already full catalog of diamonds. I am speaking, of course, of "Somebody Already Broke My Heart.
" Anyone who has ever loved has had the feelings Sade lays bare here. But that has always been the secret of Sade's music. It either captures a mood and makes us feel, or it puts into words what we do feel. It is a magic gift Sade posseses like few others.
Sade's lyrics are always quite profound; nowhere is this more evident than on the excellent 'Immigrant' and 'King of Sorrow'. The simple effective multilayered tracking that characterized songs like 'Sweetest taboo', 'Paradise', 'Nothing can come between us', 'No ordinary love' etc is absent here although 'Flow' comes close. This may not be what some were expecting but Sade fans will see it's beauty and integrity. It is Sade that we cling to musically.
She is the rock we cling to and the artist we swim to in a storm.
