When golden-voiced, London-based singer Jessie Ware arrived on the scene a few years ago many expected her to become one of Britain’s biggest pop exports. Her soulful, club-influenced music pulled off a neat trick of being both cool and commercial: her debut Devotion was packed with memorable moments. However, she didn’t quite break through as expected. Now she is back with Tough Love, potentially a massive step in the right direction.
Boasting the knob-twiddling talents of successful production duo BenZel on some tracks (the hit machine that worked with the likes of Katy Perry, Maroon 5 and Rihanna), Ware’s latest offering is a smooth slice of soul-pop. At times it’s understated (‘Want Your Feeling’); occasionally it is stylishly skeletal in terms of instrumentation (‘Cruel’); but there is never any doubt that Jessie’s beautiful, breathy voice is worth listening to. The Ed Sheeran co-penned, gospel-steeped ‘Say You Love Me’ and the ‘80s tinged title track are clearly destined for mainstream success. However, it’s the simple, sophisticated ‘Desire’ that truly impresses thanks to a stunning hook that sees Jessie imploring “Take me as I am” over gloomy synths. Excellent.
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