Estelle – Shine

• 21st Apr 2008

Estelle’s debut album for one reason or another passed many by, quietly fading into the background when drab sour faced indie was standing at the forefront, screaming, shouting and literally begging to be noticed. Songs like ‘1980’ weren’t the smash hit songs some had expected but second time round it finally looks like Estelle is finally getting both the recognition and exposure she deserves. You see the mould from which most of this album is cast, doesn’t stray much from the usual template that has worked so well in the past for so many highly regarded artists, ranging from Madonna to Whitney Houston, The Supremes and even Ms Dynamite. Taking influence from what has already gone, picking the best bits and putting them together in a way that what is presented is ultimately fresh sounding.

Though the credits read like a who’s of modern day pop, the majority of it is produced by The Black Eyed Pea’s Will.I.Am, Kanye West features on the already well known ‘American Boy’, then there are Cee-Lo, John Legend making appearances on other songs and even Wycliffe Jean gets in on the act for ‘No Substitute Love’ this feels like a solid album and not just a collection of tracks loosely tagged together. Most songs are underpinned by a slightly jazzy rhythm, occasionally a dub reggae off beat will raise its head or a funky bass line will grab the attention, swing it round for a bit and then plant it firmly back in position before the next killer blow heads in.

This album is unashamedly high class pop, the kind that will have school girls prancing round their rooms singing with hair brush firmly in hand somewhere in Manchester. The kind that will soundtrack some middle class dinner party in Clapham and some songs could even haunt those smoke stained Karaoke bars in Tenerife and Kos. Pop is back.