Soldier of Love

I have always felt that Sade was its own genre, and "Soldier of Love" continues this form. The woman is in a mature mode here, telling tales in which her older fans are sure to find resonance. The title track's drum beats are unique in their "start/stop" time signature with Ms. Adu's seasoned, sumptuous alto voice answering in the simple, elegant phrasing which is her style. Most of the songs are more laid back, but go down like butter and stand up to repeated plays. There is a bittersweet mystery behind "Morning Bird", as she compares a loss to "The harvest of my dreams...The ghost of my joy." Haunting strings and piano usher in this stark, beautiful ballad. A joyful pulse full of the promise of new life propels "Babyfather", a slow-dance ode to what a good father's love can mean. "Long Hard Road" is another string-filled entry in her hard times songbook, appropriate for the times. She reminds us to listen to the voice inside that says "It's gonna be alright." "Be That Easy" has an almost country ballad feel, a gently swaying cuddle of a song where she recalls the easiness of a new love in light of changes. "Bring Me Home" picks up the pace with an even starker picture of a world-weary soldier of life. "In Another Time" finds an older woman consoling a young, heart-borken girl in a soulful ballad with the line: "They don't know what to do with something so good." A sweet, high violin and sax kiss away the tears. "Skin" is more like the steamy,erotic torchiness of Sade's earlier work, even though she's saying goodbye, washing off a love that doesn't feel right. The bass and kick drum are sure to rattle a few sub-woofers. More acoustic guitar begins "The Safest Place" as it does with several of the tracks, yet another soft ballad with a beautiful string section. Our heroine has, at last, found a safe refuge from love's battlefield in the pastoral promise of her own heart.In a lesser artists hands, these songs would feel contrived and phony. But the honesty of Sade's lyrics and delivery assure more than just another R&B fantasy. She has LIVED these songs, and the band lives with her as one.

I'll admit I was one of the people who would have rated this 2 or 3 stars, I'd even go so far as to say I felt bad about paying a little more to have pre-ordered the CD. Thankfully, I withheld from posting a review until I listened a little more. Many people will say the songs on this album are far off from songs which have been listed as Sade's "Greatest Hits," but after repetitive listening, you'll find the music truly fits with the lyrics for the songs. What might put you off the first time (or few times) you listen to it, is that the music itself - the chords, the sound, the rhythm - is NOT what you would typically consider a Sade hit from the first go-around. I think we're so accustomed to hearing her band's music in one certain fashion - more uplifting and upbeat - it makes this an album that will throw you off, maybe even as some say "disappoint" you. If you were never a Sade fan, chances are this will not make you enjoy her any more than you did the day before. Sade fans: Take into consideration that she has not recorded anything for quite some time (ten years), and she writes about things that she experienced or feels... This is not an album to give a once over. I can't say that enough. But if you take some time out of your busy life schedule and spend some alone time to not just listen, but hear and feel Sade's lyrics - this album is just as good as the others, if you can accept that just as time changes, people do too (and so do music styles). Sade is still as sexy, sensual and deep as she's always been, and her incredible voice is proof that some things will always be the same.

The best

It's been a decade since Sade released her last studio LP, "Lovers Rock." which was seem by some to be her weakest album (albeit good in its own way; it had to grow on me. But I enjoy it dearly today.)Her new album "Soldier of Love", the 1st studio LP in 10 years & only the 6th in the band's 25+ year history is a mixture of the classic Sade sound along with them exploring new sounds. Nonetheless it's still Sade & it's great her voice hasn't changed since her last recordings.The opener, "The Moon & the Sky" starts with guitars, giving it a sight Latin/Spanish favor. Later on strings are brought in. It's a wonderful song which sets the mood for the rest of the album.Soldier of Love: The 1st single. Unless one's been living in a cave, most of us have heard this song by now. The very 1st time I heard this on The Wave (KTWV 94.7 FM) I was worried when she started singing low in the vocal octave. It took only a 2nd listening to really hook me to this song with its military beat (& wonderful music video too!)Morning Bird: A song with hints of classic Sade. With piano, strings & castanets as accompaniment, she sings in a mournful way that would make Lady Day (Billie Holiday) proud. A song that deserves to be longer than its under 4 minute length.Babyfather: A song with a touch of reggae. Lyrics tell the story the story of a woman who sees a man at a bus stop as the potential father of her child. Very enjoyable & thankfully not like the rest of the "baby daddy" songs that came out in the past 15 of so years.Long Hard Road: A very simple song with guitar & strings in which Sade continues her journey as a warrior of love. A tune that quickly grows on you & short at just over 3 minutes.Be That Easy: A blues with a touch of Western. It's listenable although those who dislike country music may have an issue with it.Bring Me Home: One of my favorite songs here with good lyrics. The drums are like a heartbeat & the trance-like guitar gives this one a trip hop sound.In Another Time: A ballad with hints of classic soul. Kind of reminds me of "Jezebel" from yesteryear. Love the present of the saxophone here.Skin: The most contemporary R&B track on the album, with live instruments giving way to drum machines & other in-studio production. While not classic Sade, this is a very enjoyable song with a mini tribute to the late MJ.The Safest Place: A great closer. It's a wonderful ballad- one that deserves to be longer than its actual length: the shortest song on the album.All in all, this album is what I expected from Sade & I also believe that most of her fans will also enjoy it, as will most conservative R&B listeners. My only real issue with this is the length-at approximately 42 minutes, it's even shorter than "Lovers Rock" & the fact that some songs like "Morning Bird" & the closer deserve to be longer in length.That said, I only hope we don't have to wait `til 2020 for another album to come out!

Muy buena calidad.

Artista di fama indiscussa e album da possedere. Livello qualitativo d'incisione 7,5 su 10

Quand on aime Sade mais la musique est plus moderne que d habitude .

--- Zur Musik ---Jeder sollte ein Lieblingsalbum von Sade haben. Keine andere Künstlerin schafft es nämlich, dass man die Anstrengungen des Alltags so schnell abstreift wie sie.Seit den Achtzigern schon bleibt sie sich zusammen mit ihrer Band und ihrem Stil des entspannenden R&B für Erwachsene weitgehend treu. Während ihr bekanntester Hit SMOOTH OPERATOR, so schön und gediegen er auch anmutet, trotz organischer Saxophonklänge vor allem Achtzigerflair verströmt und die seichte Synthienote damals einfach Mode war, so wirken ihre späteren Alben irgendwie zeitlos und gelöst von irgendwelchen Konventionen. SOLDIER OF LOVE hört man sein Alter von immerhin fast acht Jahren überhaupt nicht an, das Werk könnte auch gut von heute stammen.SOLDIER OF LOVE ordnet sich dabei jedoch nirgendwo ein, erst recht nicht dem derzeitigen Chartsgeschehen. Der soulige Sound ist etwas ganz Eigenständiges, etwas Lässiges, das der unnachahmlichen Stimme von Sade und der Instrumente ihrer Band coole Überlegenheit anhaften lässt. SOLDIER OF LOVE trägt nach wie vor deren Handschrift, wirkt wie aus einem Guss produziert, aus welchem insbesondere THE MOON AND THE SKY, SOLDIER OF LOVE, BABYFATHER und THE SAFEST PLACE hervorstechen. Das ist unaufgeregte Musik, Easy Listening, den man am besten spät abends zum Schlummertrunk genießt. Wegen der schlichten Genialität dieses Gesamtwerkes darf man sich durchaus fragen, wann Sade endlich mit ihrem nächsten Studioalbum ums Eck kommt.--- Zur Vinyl ---Sades Musik eignet sich so sehr für den Gebrauch auf Vinyl wie eine Decke sich zum Schlafen in windigen Herbstnächten eignet. Man kann sich in ihrem Sound richtig schön einlullen und dafür braucht es am besten einer Schallplatte. Mein Freund pflegt zu sagen, dass solch ein Album eine "Plattenplatte" ist, will heißen, das musikalische Flair ist für die analoge Auswertung prädestiniert.Dieser Aussage kann ich nur zustimmen. Music on Vinyl widmete sich vor einigen Jahren liebevoll ihrer gesamten Diskografie auf Vinyl und gab den Alben die für das Label traditionelle Behandlung auf haptisch schönen 180 Gramm und der edel bestickerten Klarsichthülle mit Klebeverschluss. Jüngst sind leider die Lizenzrechte ausgelaufen, weswegen aktuell nur noch ein Best of von Sade unter der Schirmherrschaft von Sony Music lieferbar ist. Wenn man schnell auf die Jagd geht, bekommt man SOLDIER OF LOVE vielleicht noch zu einem moderaten Preis.Den ideellen Wert des Mondpreises wird die Vinyl aber gerecht, denn sie ist ein Prachtexemplar einer LP! Die hochglänzende Klapphülle offeriert eine makellose schwarze Schallplatte ohne Pressfehler und Knackser in einer gestärkten Innenhülle mit den Songtexten auf beiden Seiten, funktionell Weiß auf Schwarz präsentiert. Die kleinen Mankos dabei sind das Fehlen einer Fütterung der Innenhülle und das schnelle Bilden von Fingerabdrücke auf Cover und Innenhülle. Weil das Teil aber wunderschön anmutet, sind die Mankos durchaus zu verkraften.Das höchste Maß an Schönheit widerfährt eh dem Klang. Eindeutig hat man hier ein separates Vinylmastering, wie für MOV-Verhältnisse üblich, angefertigt, das im Gegensatz zum digitalen Auto-Rip seitens Amazon perfekt ausgesteuert ist und mit Tiefe und Wärme aufwartet. Während die CD-Ausgabe durch Loudness am Stück eher anstrengend zu lauschen ist, macht es zum Beispiel richtig Spaß, der knackigen Bassabbildung des beeindruckenden Titeltracks auf Vinyl beizuwohnen.Eine "Plattenplatte" ist SOLDIER OF LOVE also, die mittlerweile ihren Sammlerpreis echt wert ist. Sollte man die eventuelle Neuauswertung durch Sony Music nicht abwarten können, kann man auch getrost den Mondpreis bezahlen... es lohnt sich!

とても良いアルバムです。