REVIEW: ELTON JOHN & BRANDI CARLILE - WHO BELIEVES IN ANGELS?

4/5

Angels In Americana

Reginald, we thought you were retired?! Think again. After saying farewell to the yellow brick road, like Dorothy, with a movie, documentary, autobiography and one final victory lap of a wicked world tour, Elton John always vowed to continue making music. You only have to hear the masked up 'Lockdown Sessions' to see that the b#### is back...and never really left. Those sessions yielded the 'Simple Things' single with top American heartland singer Brandi Carlile, who also had her own post-COVID album out that year, 'In These Silent Days'. Now, four years later, they've given us even more. 'Who Believes In Angels'? Well, maybe those who also have faith in the best of both worlds (not Jay-Z and R. Kelly...sheesh!) of classic collaborative LP's. Just a fortnight after young lovers Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco did it for 'I Said I Love You First'.

Now it's time for Sir Elton and Brandi Carlile (not Belinda Carlisle, fellow 90s kids!), to get their 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart', KiKi Dee on. And they're really trying as they 'Swing For The Fences' with big-hitting singles like that and the title track. Not to mention the 'Never Too Late' theme to the Disney documentary of the same name, for the life of John. After his 'Duets' and 'The Lockdown Sessions' collaborative compilations, this is another group project for Elton, following work with Leon Russell ('The Union') and Pnau ('Good Morning To The Night'). It's also his first album since 'Lockdown' or the release of 'Regimental Sgt. Zippo' (which was originally meant to be his debut album back in the 70s) in 2021. Before that, his most recent original, solo studio album was the 'Wonderful Crazy Night' of 2016. Brandi's first album since those 'Silent Days' is also another great, like 'By The Way, I Forgive You'. Forget this not.

As gaudy and as great as the candy-coated album artwork that accompanies this record, and it's self-titled lead single's music video, coming to life, 'Who Believes In Angels?' restores your faith in the pop album. From the epic, cinematic opening of 'The Rose Of Laura Nyro' (for a man who has scored movies from 'The Lion King' to 'Gnomeo and Juliet'), to the Lord have mercy bluster of 'Little Richard's Bible', passing a plate around the congregation whilst the keys heat up like great balls of fire for this maverick top gun and his American woman. Recorded in Hollywood's Sunset Sound Recorders in Los Angeles with prolific producer Andrew Watt. He, and of course, the legendary Bernie Taupin help pen the new hits. Starting from scratch and recording a brand-new album in just twenty days, the perfect pair "pushed each other out of their comfort zones" and the result is not only "one of the toughest" albums Elton John has made, but also "one of the greatest musical experiences" of his life.

English man. American woman. The across the pond collaboration is also joined by Red Hot Chili Pepper drummer Will Fer... Chad Smith, and former Pepper Josh Klinghoffer. Making it a band, almost like when Norah Jones and Jack White joined Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi in 'Rome'. 'A Little Light' really shines on this neon, vibrant LP. Even when the new dynamic duo go it alone, it still works cohesively. Whether it be Carlile's best take on the album (the beautiful ballad 'You Without Me'), or John's own 'My Way' in the curtain's 'When This Old World Is Done With Me'. On 'The River Man', which would make Springsteen proud, they sing together "All the weekend warriors touching down/Leaving a black stain on the sacred ground/Ready and willing to feel wild/Even the traffic sings in tune and perfect time", in sync and harmony. But it's when they harmonize the words of "Your voice is ringing in my mind/You are tattooed on my soul/From the never-ending highway/To the strings of my piano", that you really realize there is 'Someone To Belong To'. Each other. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: 'Swing For The Fences', 'You Without Me', 'When This Old World Is Done With Me'.

Spin This: Elton John - 'The Lockdown Sessions' / Brandi Carlile - 'In These Silent Days' 

REVIEW: MELANIE FIONA: SAY YES EP

4/5

Say Less 

Yes, Queen. These days, real R&B might be dominated by the likes of SZA and Solange, making their legend like the aforementioned's sister, or Rihanna, but let's not forget about Melanie Fiona and what 'The Bridge' of her debut did back in 2009. 'It Kills Me' and 'Teach Him'...my God, what a way to end an album for the record. It may have been a long time since 'The MF Life', 2012 to be exact, but Melanie Fiona is still the apple of music's ear, motherf#####s! Even if we haven't had an album, like The Renaissance of the Canadian's group project with fellow Toronto star Drake, which has yet to yield an album, but can probably wait.

Even now, in here return, it's not album grand, but it really is something as the 'Say Yes' EP is the extended play that will have you affirming her talent once more. From the very second she sets the incense alight to the sexy as hell red room video of the titular track, you just know it's back on, like f#####g after a fight with the one you love through thick and thin. "No more fighting/I want love without the war/I'm inviting/You to even up the score/If l lay my cards out on the table/Showing hearts like never before/Tell me, will you be ready, willing and able/When I come knocking at your door?", Melanie muses over a beautiful Andre Harris beat. As sexy and as sultry as the dance hall video of fellow single 'I Choose You' that you will make your selection.

This is the remix, an extended jam of 'Say Yes' featuring Harris, Charlie Bereal, Chris Dave, SiR and the great, instrumental Thundercat. An inspired, classic collaboration like the LaRussell feature on 'Make Me Feel' that will have you yearning for more on what feels like an album that's just getting started. Perhaps it is, as the 'Bang, Bang' dramatic soprano singer gives us more on 'Do That'. But it's the formidable Fiona's perfect portrait (like the song's or album artwork) on the cinematic 'Mona Lisa Smile' singer that really resonates. Singing, "Perfect picture in a broken frame and/No one ever sees the broken pieces of the painting/I know you're lying, I'm lying, it's crazy/I don't really know why in the hell I'm tryna save this/If I didn't love you, I'd walk out that door/If a man can have his pride, well, a girl could have more/I'd rather go to war, before I let a teardrop hit this floor", feeling like a precursor to an actual album. If this is a litmus test for that, you know what we say? Yes! TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Playlist Picks: 'Say Yes', 'Make Me Feel (Feat. LaRussell)', 'Mona Lisa Smile'.