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Estelle - Shine
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Estelle Swaray is a big noise right now, and not just in the pop charts where currently she graces the summit with the gossamer beauty of ‘American Boy’. No, Estelle has also been shooting her mouth off about new “soul” chart-toppers Adele and Duffy. She has accused Adele of the dread crime of having “heard some Aretha records”, suggesting that whatever the Brits darling has, it ain’t “soul”. Well, it’s emotive territory – every genre gets appropriated at some point or other – but does Estelle possess “soul” herself?
She’s been on shaky ground since the breakthrough-that-wasn’t – her debut album The 18th Day in 2004. There were hits – personal history ‘1980’ and empowerment anthem ‘Free’ among them – but she let her powder run dry. Four years and a change of record label later, she’s done well to come back in style.
That she’s managed this is down to the handy patronage of some influential American Boys. Only conspicuous on the No.1 single, the Midas touch of Kanye West is all over this album – from speeded up soul samples (‘In The Rain’) to effortless blending of rap and song (‘So Much Out The Way’ with its old-skool spiel and gorgeous chorus). The album’s executive producer is West’s mucker John Legend, but actual production is down to the likes of Will.i.am, Wyclef Jean and another confused AmeriBrit, Mark Ronson. When you hear the airy, jazzy job Will.i.am’s done on another single ‘Wait A Minute (Just A Touch)’, you wonder what the hell he’s been doing with the horribly clunky Black Eyed Peas.
Authenticity is Estelle’s thing. “I’m from London/Home of Big Ben,” she asserts on the title track, while “English chick/I’ll show you how to walk” is ‘So Much Out The Way’’s boast. She’s taking it to them, not bringing Stateside sass to us. That’s her story, anyway. The rest is laidback summer flava, an album packed with sweet tunes and love-y lyrics, hip-hop beats and swooning strings. It’s “soul” as we know it.
Matthew Horton
