Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Beverley Knight's second album represents a quantum leap beyond her 1999 debut, Prodigal Sista, setting her apart as the most likely of the current crop of homegrown soul divas to transcend the parochial UK R&B scene and make a significant impact across the Atlantic. This is probably due largely to her collaboration with tried and tested American writing and production teams, especially the duo of James Poyser & Che Guevara who have previously proven so effective with the genre's more creative exponents (Lauryn Hill, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu), and who bring a limber touch to Knight's work here. The recent hit single "Get Up!" perhaps best illustrates her fresh transatlantic style, with a little ragga twitch and delicately stalking synth bass animating an understated groove reminiscent of D'Angelo's best work. Elsewhere, mid-tempo ballads such as "Shape of You" and "Gold" are handled with a refreshing absence of the usual soul-diva showboating, allowing the songs to shine through unimpeded. Equally adept at the soulful lower register of the blues and the euphoric choruses of R&B anthems, Knight reserves her more distinctive efforts for the deep-soul number "Bestseller Mystery", giving it the full Etta James over steely blues guitar fills; although the quiet country-soul lament "Fallen Soldier" is at least as effective, her voice clear and emotive over the album's barest backdrop of sparse guitar and percussion. Like the album as a whole, it's marked by an impressive restraint that's far more persuasive than the ghastly histrionics of her American peers.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments