Never Forget My Love

Strange as it seems, Never Forget My Love is Joss Stones most R&B-oriented set of original material since Introducing Joss Stone (actually her third album), released 15 years earlier. Stone works again with Dave Stewart, her producer and writing partner on the rock and soul hybrid LP1 (actually her fifth album). As with that 2011 full-length, these songs come across as deliberately crafted in a way that differentiates them from the much greater volume of comparatively off-the-cuff material in Stones catalog. The singer sounds more comfortable than she has in some time, whether shes referencing prime Burt Bacharach (with whom Stone performed in 2019), classic Memphis soul, or the Staple Singers, or bringing to mind a cross between Betty Wright and Bill Withers (specifically on the title song, a highlight). For the most part, this is full-tilt Stone -- a delight for those who want to hear her let it all out, even when the song doesnt necessarily call for it. She eases up only to tango on "The Greatest Secret" and jubilate on "When Youre in Love," a sweet finale with all the elegance and casual grooving energy of an early-80s Ashford & Simpson or Luther Vandross production. ~ Andy Kellman

デイヴ・スチュワートをプロデュースに迎え、ナッシュヴィルで録音した7年ぶりのアルバム。本人が〈ダスティ・スプリングフィールドやバート・バカラック、ディオンヌ・ワーウィックのようなクラッシーでタイムレスな曲〉と語っているように、レトロなだけでない、品のあるソウルを聴かせる好盤だ。そんななかでも、ステイプル・シンガーズを思わせる南部ムードな"You're My Girl"での味わい深い歌い込みは彼女ならではだろう。
bounce (C)池谷瑛子