Real Life

2010年代UKシーンを代表するR&Bシンガー・ソングライター Emeli Sande、3年ぶりのサード・アルバム。過去2作は Brit Awards の Best British Female Solo Artist 賞を連続受賞。2010年代UKシーンを象徴する実力派!

3年ぶりのサード・アルバム。プロデュースは Emeli Sande と Troy Miller。#3「You Are Not Alone」では重鎮サラーム・レミとジェームス・ポイザー (ザ・ルーツ) が作曲で参加。

Real Life is the third album from British singer/songwriter Emeli Sande and follows 2016's Long Live the Angels. Produced by Troy Miller (Laura Mvula, Gregory Porter) and co-written by Sande herself, the album sees the singer/songwriter delivering a collection of inspiring pop and soul songs. ~ Rich Wilson|

Emeli Sandes Real Life aims to alleviate, uplift, and motivate. Well-matched with the versatile Troy Miller, whose production work includes sessions with Gregory Porter, Laura Mvula, and Rebecca Ferguson, the singer and songwriter -- this sets sole lyricist -- devotes less time to introspection, offering instead a personal growth endcap worth of support, encouragement, and praise, and in one instance, a to-do list of sorts. Like Sandes two previous studio albums, its based in mature pop, but its integration of other genres and styles -- a little reggae, some blues, disco, and more gospel than ever -- is done with more finesse. The seamlessness, combined with full-hearted vocal performances, counteracts all the platitudes and flying-bird-as-freedom metaphors. Tucked into the second half are two of Sandes most powerful songs, and theyre consecutive. The flawlessly assembled Survivor, a gospel anthem in every aspect, contains a career-defining vocal performance. It gradually unfurls with a rippling rhythm accented with sweeping organ and strings, a spirited choir with some call-and-response -- the (water)works -- as it lifts off. Rather than go the conventional route by following with a restful ballad, the singer whisks the listener to the dancefloor with the crisp disco of Extraordinary Being. Theres so much conviction in Sandes voice that its stock flattery and motivational phrases seem trite only in print. A couple old-fashioned love songs toward the end, including the clap-along title track -- another churchified number -- add emotional variety without sounding like consolation prizes for those who expected to get more material like Next to Me and Hurts. ~ Andy Kellman

10年代の英国を代表する実力派シンガーの3作目が完成した。今作も大衆性のある楽曲群に怒涛の歌ぢからを込めており、ビッグ・バラードの"Sparrow"をはじめ、強さと可憐さと叙情性を一曲の中に収める表現力は感動的だ。サラーム・レミ&ジェイムズ・ポイザー作の"You Are Not Alone"や、ディスコな"Extraordinary Being"など楽曲も粒揃い。
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