DES’REE

Supernatural (Sony Music)

After ‘What’s Your Sign?’, the simple instrumentation and big-hearted lyrics of which will make you feel genuinely uplifted, Supernatural temporarily tails off into the realm of wallpaper music. While songs like ‘Best Days’ are jolly enough, they lack the emotional exuberance and sensual luxury that Des’ree can pull out of the bag when she gets it right.

‘Life’ gets full marks for quirky lyrics, though: “I don’t want to see a ghost,” sings the beautiful and quite possibly psychic chanteuse; ”it’s a sight that I fear most. I’d rather have a piece of toast and watch the evening news.” Wouldn’t we all!

Mercifully, Supernatural takes off again with track five, ‘Proud To Be A Dread’, a brilliantly worded eulogy to Rastafarianism whose subtle reggae rhythms and steel drums elevate it to a higher plane. Next up is the stunning ‘I’m Kissing You’, that beautiful piece of music used for the balcony scene in last year’s film version of Romeo and Juliet. What is there to say about this perfect song, with its piano and string arrangements opening out like wings? The sense of love and loss conveyed by Des’ree’s superb vocals is tangible.

The rest of Supernatural is excellent, combining laidback, easygoing morning-time music with more richly passionate songs like ‘Down By the River’ and ‘Darwin Star’, whose Sinéad O’Connor-esque Celtic howling casts Des’ree in a whole new light.

All in all, it’s a warm, sunny album that improves the more you listen to it. Give it patience and you’ll get the rewards.

Adrienne Murphy