Music review: Lianne La Havas – ‘Blood’
Much of the sophomore release from Lianne La Havas is a direct result of her reconnecting with her Jamaican and Greek roots as her sultry voice and the rich, sophisticated production tenderly embrace to deliver a delicious collection of pure neo-soul.
With 鈥淏lood,鈥� Havas gracefully joins singers like Duffy, Adele, Eliza Doolittle and Joss Stone as elite members of the Brit-soul scene.
While 鈥淚s Your Love Big Enough?鈥� served as the London native鈥檚 acclaimed debut, 鈥淏lood鈥� is a bolder and more diverse recording that features the energetic passion of Alicia Keys, the seductive charm of Sade and the romantic elegance of Anita Baker.
After being featured on Prince鈥檚 鈥淐louds鈥� from 2014鈥檚 鈥淎rt Official Age,鈥� Havas demonstrates why Prince was so taken by her that he played a gig in her living room in London.
The melodic and mesmerizing 鈥淯nstoppable鈥� opens the album as Havas sings about having the determination to repair and restore a broken relationship.
The infectious pop stylings of 鈥淲hat You Don鈥檛 Do鈥� propel the peppy love song into a tasty slice of Motown.
鈥淎nd suddenly it seems that I鈥檓 where I鈥檓 supposed to be,鈥� proclaims Havas on 鈥淕reen & Gold.鈥�
The 25-year-old singer-songwriter鈥檚 maturity brings a fresh, unrestricted vibe to the exotic arrangements of life, relationships and new beginnings.
鈥淏lood鈥� is a soulful indulgence that is sure to soon launch Havas to the level of next big thing here in the United States.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at crhodes@heraldstandard.com.