Evaluation: Alison Moyet – Key (Cooking Vinyl)
★★★★☆
After seven years, and regardless of minimal exercise since, Alison Moyet loses none of her powers as she delves into her solo previous
Publicly quiet since 2017’s majestic Different, Alison Moyet admits that she’s carried out little or no singing previously seven years. Solely when it was identified that it’s been 40 years since going solo did Moyet discover an excuse to return to the studio: making a brand new album was initially a purpose to return on tour, her old flame.
If that suggests re-recording 16 previous songs is a textbook stopgap, don’t fear: Key is gorgeous in its personal proper, its usually haunting electronics recalling 2002’s Hometime, the album the place Moyet fell again in love with synthesizers.
With Different’s co-writer Sean McGhee promoted to a twin position as producer, the pair choose correctly which songs to revisit. Of the three enormous hits, Is This Love? and All Cried Out develop into smokier and extra sinister, whereas Love Resurrection pops down the disco to resemble a John Luongo remix.
Moyet’s extra obscure songs deserve their house to shine, too. Hometime-era B-side Tongue Tied is Key’s sweetest second, a easy and unadorned breeze, whereas My Greatest Day – initially meant as a Moyet single, however ending up a 1994 Lightning Seeds album observe – completely sounds successful now it’s lastly ‘her’ track, scooping up the listener because it flies previous, filled with drama and mischief.
Luxurious Setting
Equally, dramatic new observe The Impervious Me glides alongside like Bryan Ferry’s best noir, Moyet’s lyrics as enigmatic as John Le Carre, as she talks of “Laying out your raiment” whereas giving recommendation on how one can solely ever be your self.
Principally ignoring more moderen work as a result of she’s proud of the unique preparations, Filigree from 2013’s The Minutes is an honourable exception, reimagined as an intimate jazz ballad. It really works, not least as a result of Moyet’s vocals are luxurious within the minimal setting: the best way she strikes gently via the gears on the phrase “display screen” alone are an object lesson for anybody who confuses gymnastics with method.
Sean McGhee’s Artmagic bandmate Richard Oakes, additionally guitarist of Suede, completes Filigree’s hushed atmospherics with beautiful plucked guitar, one among Oakes’ a number of scrumptious visitor performances. Solely the undercooked This Home betrays the extreme workload to get Key prepared for Moyet’s fortieth celebrations: contemplating her lack of vocal train, Moyet sounds imperious. Her declare that her voice is now “whale-like” means Moyet can’t have heard her personal falsetto on World With out Finish.
Any excuse to have new Alison Moyet music is welcome. That it’s with a file which shines mild on just a few of her dustier rooms, killing off just a few demons over unique preparations because it does so, makes Key a marvel. Don’t depart it so lengthy subsequent time, eh?
Key is accessible right here.
Learn extra: Alison Moyet albums: the whole information