Lovers Rock

Mojo - "...[Her] appealingly blank vocals are intricately layered and the delicate, spacious arrangements...underline her desolate quality....it still goes well with cocktails..." Spin - 8 out of 10 - "...An airy album, demo-like in its simplicity....Sade has never put out anything quite so ephemeral....practically hanging in the air like mist....devastating..." Q - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Attractively bespoke..." Vibe - 4 stars out of 5 - "...proves that such a remarkable voice can survive 8 years between albums and still sound vital. Her voice is controlled, elegant, and radiantly cool - so beautiful, so simple, so necessary..." Mixmag - 5 out of 5 - "...Her glorious, bretahy vocals and raw and emotive production are as untainted and timeless as ever..." Vibe (12/00, pp.195-6) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...proves that such a remarkable voice can survive 8 years between albums and still sound vital. Her voice is controlled, elegant, and radiantly cool - so beautiful, so simple, so necessary..." Spin (1/01, pp.113-4) - 8 out of 10 - "...An airy album, demo-like in its simplicity....Sade has never put out anything quite so ephemeral....practically hanging in the air like mist....devastating..." Q (12/00, pp.132-3) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Attractively bespoke..." Mixmag (12/00, p.181) - 5 out of 5 - "...Her glorious, bretahy vocals and raw and emotive production are as untainted and timeless as ever..." Mojo (12/00, pp.110-1) - "...[Her] appealingly blank vocals are intricately layered and the delicate, spacious arrangements...underline her desolate quality....it still goes well with cocktails..."

Examining the career of former model/fashion design student Helen Folasade Adu, it's apparent that the span between studio albums increased exponentially. Eight years after LOVE DELUXE, the original members of Sade's band regrouped and here recapture the magic of the former ensemble. The vocals on LOVERS ROCK are unmistakably sensual and enchanting. Guitarist Stuart Matthewman steers clear of the crunchy electric sound that was his signature on LOVE DELUXE, the one exception being "Somebody Already Broke My Heart", which has some tasty understated percussive palm muting in the choruses.
From an instrumental perspective, LOVERS ROCK leans a bit more to the electronic side, but technology doesn't dampen the atmosphere and simple beauty of the music. Not surprisingly, the focus continues to be the sweet, often mournful melodies of a unique pop vocalist.|