Having already sold over 50 million albums, British Nigerian soul icon Sade Adu is ready to notch up a few more accomplishments with her band's sixth album - Soldier of Love. Sade has not released an album since their multi-platinum album of 2000 titled Lovers Rock and it hasn't come sooner enough.
As with much of her work, Sade dances the line between seductive mood setter and haunting soul searcher. Morning Bird exemplifies this trait via a broody piano laced tale of lost love.
The title track and first single hemorrhages emotional distress but offers signs of hope to the listener. The track portrays Sade as a determined war scarred vet complete with rattling snares and drill sergeant like chants scattered through out. Long Hard Road is in the same vein but more somber.
Sade has reveled in telling tales of sorrow and hardship (Pearls, Jezebel, Please Send Me Someone To Love) and The Moon and the Sky continues this trend. The track is a perfect opener and one of the highlights here. Bring Me Home is driven by a strong guitar melody and an almost hip hop backing beat with eerie twisted cries. With lyrics delivered via equally eerie layered vocals yearning for escape from various hostilities - "The dawn holds the heaviness of the night. I've heard the restless sighs and lovers lies. The brook, the beach and seen the devil's eyes. So bring me home".
Soldier of Love almost overwhelms the listener with broodiness but the mood is illuminated by the Reggae-type sway of Babyfather. The prevalent theme of the album is hammered back home thanks to blues infused tracks Be That Easy and In Another Time. A fully live sounding album, this is what Sade fans of old would come to expect. The only issue I have is with the track The Safest Place which is a little messy lyrically at times.
With her band still in tact since their 1984 debut, Adu's voice is as slick and smoky as ever and still possesses that instantly recognizable ache. Just like fellow label mate Maxwell's long hiatus, Sade has stayed true to her past unique and beautiful style. Although many people are at war or claim to be when it comes to love, Sade is a war veteran who has been in the field for decades and amongst a sea of rivals she still is one of the generals.
Available through Sony.
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