"Woman in me" by Louise.
So, can she do it?
Everyone who knows anything knows that one album is easy. The skill is in doing it twice, then three times, and then perhaps people might just begin to think you have made it. Pop history has a rich catalogue of acts who have released their debut album to high acclaim, only to fade quickly to obscurity. The question is, will this happen to Louise? Is she worth all the hype and pressure that is piled upon her by a media that, lets face it, will stick its teeth into anything that will sell a copy.
The answer, I'm happy to say, is yes! And a resounding one as well. "Woman In Me" is not a mere follow up to a hugely successful debut, but it builds on the success that "Naked" achieved, mixing rich production with a voice that oozes everything from soul to smooch with an ounce or two of steam. More of a journey than an album, Louise herself claimed it to be "more complete" than "Naked", and the evidence can be heard by all in this mix of styles and music taken from several decades.
Starting with the first single "Arms Around The World", the quality of the production comes swiftly to the fore. A detailed percussion and an expansive sound, using simple melodies reminiscent of those used in "Naked" - the single, makes the track more of a sensory experience than just a musical one. Track 2 - "All That Matters" is the first of several songs on the album that have an almost gospel quality to them, mixing a catchy tune with a pronounced bassline and a choral/strings backing. A similar concept shines through in "I Pray", a soulful tune that highlights the versatility of Louise's vocals, and delivers a soul-stirring ballad that is offset beautifully by the glorious disco-diva romp that is "Lets Go Round Again". This toe-tapping version of the 1980 disco classic is a true three minute wonder. The simplicity of the lyric and the addictive tune causes it to be running round your head long after its finished.
"Woman In Me" uses the full range of Louise's voice, reaching the high's and the low's with the same effortlessness, and exploring a catchy classic R&B melody. As a title track it's difficult to fault, and leaves the mood exactly right for the first real tear-jerker on the album, "Trust In You", which finally dispels any doubts we may have that Louise can in fact lose that trademark smile and really feel for what she is singing. The London Session Orchestra adds to the mood, and as it ends I swear you can see the lights fade out.....
...and then fade up again, along with that smile for the feelgood track of the first half: "Reminds Me Of You". This track shows off the talent of Louise's writing team who seem to come up with tracks that seem to grab hold of you after just a single play. Indeed Louise herself co-wrote five of the tracks on the album and I think this can be indicative of her growing confidence in what she is doing, as well as a maturing sense of 'what sounds good'!
The first half closes on what is a bit of a milestone for Louise. "Shut Up And Kiss Me" discards the shy, even coy image that most of us have built up over the last 25 minutes listening and hits us in the face with a thumping dance tune that demands rather than requests.
I, for one, would not need telling twice.....
The second half opens with "Healing Love" a refreshing blend of breathless words-in- your-ear and another great string backing, this time arranged by Nick Ingman. A definite Sunday afternoon chill-out number this one. Next we arrive at probably the most memorable song from the album. "When Will My Heart Beat Again" is true quality. In this lamenting ballad, Louise shows all her critics how a tear-jerker should be done. The arrangement adds to an evocative mood that is sure to bring tears to the eyes of anyone who has ever lost out in love.
One of the principle qualities of this album is its mastery of mood switching: From reminding us that we "..never missed the water 'till the well ran dry.", we are immediately invited to partake in the calypso festival that is "New York Moon", one from the Gloria Estefan school of escapism in a South American rhythm.
Back to this side of the Atlantic for another visit to the disco with "Happy Love", another glimpse of the more dominant side of the Louise character, fully backed up by the big-time production which is a hallmark of this album.
We are served an ultimatum by Louise on the next track: '..this is my wake up call, this is your early warning...', "Who Do You Love?". By this point she shouldn't be in any doubt whatsoever, but she delivers an effective message with a novel guitar backing and a keyboard riff that plays along cheerfully.
A visit to club land next, with 'Don't Be Shy' opening the door on a raunchy number with more breathless vocals and bags of 'oohs' and 'aahs'. A sure hit on the dance floor, this one stops short of introducing full drum and bass, an indication of future direction? Who knows! From 90's club to 60's class next as Lou gives a brief nod toward Motown in "Running Back For More", as good as anything released back then, another indication of a versatility that is becoming a fact rather than a rumour.
All too soon we arrive at the end of the trip, its crowning glory in a song that stylistically seems to be what Lou comes back to most, the stirring ballad. "Love Will Bring You Back To Me" isn't by any means the strongest song on this album, but its return to the strings and choir backing ensures that it delivers its message effectively.
When you sit back and contemplate what you have heard, the first impression is one of variety. This album has a bit of everything: Darkness, light-heartedness, honest soul and a couple of downright funky grooves for those who feel the need. It appears the Louise phenomenon is not a lot of fuss about a gorgeous girl who can sing a bit, but something that has more substance than that. After this album, she deserves to get a lot more of the respect that was lacking after the first, both from the press, and indeed, from many of her peers. A talent to be watched. It's a hard life isn't it?
Rich..
