Sting annoys people who can’t look past his persona and enjoy his music. In what may well be an attempt to further irritate his detractors, Symphonicities features orchestral reworkings of songs from his past. ‘Every Little Thing She Does is Magic’ is bloated and magnificent, the dark ‘I Hung My Head’ is both intense and attractively triumphal, while the broad sweep of ‘You Will Be My Ain True Love’ has Appalachian overtones. On the downside, a reggae-free ‘Roxanne’ doesn’t quite work as a dreamy Latino ballad, and this ‘Englishman in New York’ is as twee as the original. But ‘When We Dance’ is an acceptable duet with Jo Lawry, and ‘We Work the Black Seam’ is servicable protest pop.
Sting’s voice is as reliable as ever, and this album works best when it overhauls songs rendered toothless through over familiarity. Interesting.
KEY TRACK: ‘NEXT TO YOU’