Sade
Lovers Rock

THE REVIEW

Sade Adu is a fortunate woman: beautiful and born with the gift of a golden voice, but not only that, what has truly made a difference for her is above all her uncommon elegance, and also an intelligence above the average; intelligence in keeping a historic group of skilled and trusted musicians by her side, in not giving in to the allure of the more careless mainstream and fads, in always placing quality over quantity. Such foresight has surely borne fruit, and it shows: even though the commercial peak of the quiet storm wave has long passed, the name Sade still evokes great respect and admiration today, and her identifying with a single, very precise and codified style has allowed her to become a true icon, much more than just a mere prominent exponent. One year was the gap between the first and second albums, three between the second and third, four between the third and fourth, eight between the fourth and fifth, a long wait crowned by a jewel in the production of the Anglo-Nigerian artist: "Lovers Rock". 

"Lovers Rock" is the album I prefer the most: more cohesive and structured than its predecessors, it flows more smoothly and has a more defined personality; the sound is warm and rich with Latin and reggae influences, yet the sober, often unplugged arrangement makes it very intimate and confidential, a flourish of arpeggios and bittersweet atmospheres that doesn’t make you miss the evening gown allure of some of her classics like "Smooth Operator" or "Paradise." "Flow", "King Of Sorrow", and "Somebody Already Broke My Heart" are the most representative episodes of this new stylistic course and form a continuum, almost merging into a single song becoming the beating heart of "Lovers Rock," a slow whirlpool with a bitter but intense aftertaste, twilight summer atmospheres. This reflective mood also perfectly suits themes very different from the sentimental ones, as in the cases of "Slave Song" and "Immigrant", the former, in particular, is definitely one of the highest points in Sade's career in terms of songwriting: absolute simplicity, just rhythm and voice for a prayer, a poem, a song of redemption, courage, and hope in the darkest hour, "I pray to the almighty, let me not to him do as he has unto me, teach my beloved children who had been enslaved to reach for the light continually". Commitment and reflection but also a velvety, sweet, and consolatory touch, manifested in the kindness and sensitivity of the short acoustic lullaby "The Sweetest Gift", in a splendid reggae ballad, bright and rich in human and emotional warmth like "By Your Side", and in the closure "It's Only Love That Gets You Through", a goosebump-inducing vocal performance, delicate and touching, of a spiritual supported by a perfect organ-piano combination.

"Lovers Rock" is an emotionally intense album but in some instances allows for more relaxed atmospheres, with pleasant "strategic" pauses that add momentum, balance, and further nuances to the whole, such as the languid and vaporous "All About Our Love", the stealthy and soulful pace of "Every Word" and, of course, "Lovers Rock", a tribute to the music sub-genre of the same name, a fusion of reggae and North American black music, clear and light, sober and elegant like the entire album that bears its title. A beautiful and perhaps, unfortunately, somewhat underrated album that shows Sade in a different light: mature, reflective, more intimate, a bit less of a diva, with the addition of the "usual" qualities already widely demonstrated. In terms of style, sophistication, and good taste, "Lovers Rock" has nothing to envy "Diamond Life" or "Stronger Than Pride" and its peculiar simplicity in arrangements further highlights an unmistakable voice, all more than enough reasons to encourage listening, not to mention the ability to create a strong emotional and empathetic bond from the first listen, something that might be true for me and not for others but constitutes one more reason to warmly recommend it.