Gabriella Cilmi // Ten

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Gabriella Cilmi returns with album number two aptly named, Ten (one reason that has been cited by Gabriella herself is the fact that this year her birthday is 10.10.10). If you’ve heard the debut, Lessons To Be Learned, then Ten is likely to come as shock to the system. In fact, it’s Gabriella, but not as we know her

The opening track is also the first single, On A Mission, which many will know by now has a very retro yet futuristic sound to it. This literally sets out the flavour of the entire album; retro with a modern twist. Hearts Don’t Lie has a Disco feel whilst What If You Knew keeps the pace up with the same sort of style. 

Love Me Cos You Want To continues with the electronics and sounds like something maybe more expected from the Eurythmics and slows the pace a little in time for the first proper ballad, Defender. Superhot again picks up on the disco feel before heading into Boys, which, if it was possible, should be an alternative track for Wii Fit’s step aerobics.

The last three tracks herald back to the feel of Lessons To Be Learned, albeit with an electronic twist, showing that Cilmi hasn’t forgotten that which grabbed the media’s interest. The bonus track is a 2010 remix of Gabriella’s first single, Sweet About Me, and basically brings it up to date with the album style as a whole.

As I said at the start, this is not the Gabriella that we knew from Lessons To Be Learned. Not only has she worked with previous producer Xenomania, she’s also worked with the likes of Greg Kurstin (Lily Allen, Little Boots), Dallas Austin (TLC, Gwen Stefani, Michael Jackson) which probably explain the whole sound of the album. She’s matured and ready to take a risk by completely overhauling her sound for the new album.

Whilst maybe not what was expected, the overall sound of the album reflects the current style flooding the music scene at present (with the likes of Lady GaGa, Little Boots etc.) and this may mean that she won’t be as prominent as she was with the release of Lessons To Be Learned. However, in saying that, it’s a solid album that should do well, maybe even attract newer fans. It’s definitely proved that she’s ‘On A Mission’ to show that lessons have been learnt.

Rating: 4/5

Track listing
On A Mission
Hearts Don't Lie
What If You Knew
Love Me Cos You Want To
Defender
Robots
Super Hot
Boys
Invisible Girl
Glue
Let Me Know
Superman
Sweet About Me (Twenty Ten Version)