Sade – Soldier of Love (Sony)
4/5
By: Hayley Sleigh
Before I rush into my review of Sade’s Soldier of Love, there are two things the reader should probably be aware of: 1. Sade is a band, not just a beautiful Nigerian-born, Clacton-on-Sea-raised soul singer. I learnt this from Wikipedia. 2. I, and certainly just about every other child born in Britain in the mid-80s, was allegedly conceived to Sade’s 1984 debut album Diamond Life, in particular the songs ‘Smooth Operator’ and ‘Your Love Is King’. I learnt this from my mother, and one day my therapist or fellow rehab patients shall learn this from me.
I am telling you this now, because it is important that you understand - when I say this album is good, I really mean it. It’s as good as an album has to be to distance itself from all the horrible mum-and-dad-sex connotations that force their way kicking and screaming into my mind whenever I hear Sade Adu’s voice.
That unmistakeable voice has grown grittier and rougher since 2000’s Lovers Rock, and here the startling contrast between Adu’s rawer tone and the frequently polished, string-lead instrumentals serves to enhance stunning lyrics, ranging from the desperate, frenzied “If you set me free, I will run” on ‘Morning Bird’, to the more passive and desolate. In the haunting ballad ‘Bring Me Home’, when Adu sings “My tears flow like a child’s in need of love/I’ve cried the tears/So let the tide take me, I won’t fight” while encircled by a crowd of swirling, menacing guitars, you can’t help but believe her.
The sublime ‘In Another Time’ is another high point, a bluesy lullaby whose soothing violins serve as a perfect counterpoint to the album’s more fervent moments. The same cannot be said, sadly, for the languid, largely forgettable title track, which cannot be saved by its rousing drum beat, or the dull, plodding ‘Babyfather’.
Adu’s voice is at its rawest on the album’s most powerful song, ‘Morning Bird’, soaring above as a mournful, listless piano battles with frantic, pleading violins before slowly fading away. Sade Adu sings “How could you?/You are the Morning Bird/that sang me into life”.
Having become acquainted, and indeed rather fond, of this latest album by the, ahem, Morning Bird who, erm, sang me into life, I am finding myself increasingly eager to explore Sade’s earlier efforts. Lovers Rock, mostly. Not Diamond Life. That shit’s just traumatic.
Artists in this article: Sade
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