2016年の前作『フォロイング・マイ・イントゥイション』で、2000年に発表したデビュー・アルバム『ボーン・トゥ・ドゥ・イット』以来、16年ぶりに全英1位獲得し、華々しい復活が話題となった。そこからたった一年後の勢いに乗る中での新作&期待作が完成。 UKガラージ、R&B、ダブステップのクレイグの要素はずれずに、新進気鋭のプロデューサー陣(ジョナス・ブルー、ゴールドリンク、バスティル、ケイトラナダ等)ともタッグを組み、ダンス、EDM、トロピカル・ハウスを駆使、旬なジャンルまでも網羅した作品。リード・シングル「ハートライン」はジョナス・ブルー(2016年ダンス界でブレイク、日本でも人気を誇るDJ/プロデューサー)が手掛け、新しくクレイグを知るファンにも、かつてのクレイグファンにも響く心地よいサウンドとなっている。
発売・販売元 提供資料(2017/12/01)
Clash - "'Live In The Moment' is produced by Kaytranada and is comfortably the best song here, with David floating effortlessly above the Canadian's signature sound."
NME - 3 stars out of 5 -- "David seems genuinely interested in creating work that's both fresh, fun and plugged into the sounds of 2018."
Rovi
Following My Intuition, Craig David's first album of original material in nearly a decade, returned the singer to the top of the U.K. pop chart for the first time since his 2000 debut. David was shrewd to quickly capitalize on the commercial resurgence with The Time Is Now, a set that is less scattered stylistically, dominated by tropical house and trap stylings. David reunites with Fraser T. Smith, who produces almost half of the 12 standard edition cuts, including the Top Ten U.K. hit "I Know You," a sweeping ballad with a stadium-ready chorus led by Bastille's Dan Smith. Jonas Blue, who broke through in 2015 with his remake of "Fast Car," likewise gets into the sprightly spirit with "Heartline," one of the album's brighter moments, where David's good-guy sincerity shines through. Another highlight pairs David again with Kaytranada, who cooks up a glinting, lightly stomping beat that serves the singer as well as "Got It Good." ~ Andy Kellman|
Rovi
Following My Intuition, Craig David's first album of original material in nearly a decade, returned the singer to the top of the U.K. pop chart for the first time since his 2000 debut. David was shrewd to quickly capitalize on the commercial resurgence with The Time Is Now, a set that is less scattered stylistically, dominated by tropical house and trap stylings. David reunites with Fraser T. Smith, who produces almost half of the 12 standard edition cuts, including the Top Ten U.K. hit "I Know You," a sweeping ballad with a stadium-ready chorus led by Bastille's Dan Smith. Jonas Blue, who broke through in 2015 with his remake of "Fast Car," likewise gets into the sprightly spirit with "Heartline," one of the album's brighter moments, where David's good-guy sincerity shines through. Another highlight pairs David again with Kaytranada, who cooks up a glinting, lightly stomping beat that serves the singer as well as "Got It Good." ~ Andy Kellman
Rovi
一2017年の前作『Following My Intuition』が初作『Born To Do It』(2000年)以来16年ぶりに全英No.1に輝き、見事に復権したクレイグ。ジョナス・ブルーによるポップな"Heartline"、バスティルとの"I Know You"を経ての新作は、そんな前作をも余裕で凌ぐ、〈らしさ〉満開の内容になった。本人も初作を連想したそうだが、確かに軽めのハウスやレゲエ・フュージョン、アフロ・ポップなど、現行UKの折衷的なトレンドは往年の滑らかな軟体MC歌唱に合うパーカッシヴなものになっているわけで、そうなると必然的に往時を想起させる局面も多くなるのだろう。そんな巡り合わせの運に加え、盟友フレイザーT・スミスが久々に多くの楽曲を手掛けたのも好作用。ゴールドリンクやAJトレイシーの客演も活かす快作だ。
bounce (C)出嶌孝次
タワーレコード(vol.411(2018年1月25日発行号)掲載)