I’m not exactly sure when the British soul revolution started, but I’m beginning to wish it would stop.

 

It’s not that there’s anything particularly wrong with Alice Russell’s latest record, it’s just that I’m pretty sure Amy Winehouse, Duffy and Adele all put out almost the same thing a few months back. While the vocal range demonstrated here is gobsmacking and there’s a cracking horn section fuelling the melody line there’s nothing distinctive about the sound being produced. There are some interesting little intros which promise a modern twist on soul, but these are all mysteriously stamped out before the first chorus. Even the cover of Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy (quite possibly the catchiest song of the decade) won’t get you dancing as it’s been toned down to half tempo and stripped back till there’s barely any life left in it.

 

If you’re planning a dinner party this would sound great in the background. But if you’re planning on some concentrated listening then the formulaic song structures, relentless tempo and hackneyed lyrics will make for heavy going. - Farrin