Adele // Hello

Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes

Hello it’s me is probably not the opening line that you would expect from a song but then it seems very fitting that the opening line is from the newest single from Adele, last seen with the rather successful Bond theme, Skyfall.

It’s a beautiful piano led ballad that we all know that she can deliver without much effort. The verses have a soft tender feeling while the rousing chorus provide us a chance to really hear that powerful voice in full flow. There is a danger that this could have been over produced, could have been ruined but fortunately everything seems to be in balance here just allowing Adele’s vocals to tell the story.

It’s great to welcome Adele back the to the charts and we’re sure that this will be around for a while. And if this is just the first offering from the album, we wonder what else could be instore

Rating: 5/5

Enya // Echoes In Rain

Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 7 years since Enya’s last single was released. But now in 2015, she’s back with her first offering from the up coming album, Dark Sky Island in the form of Echoes In Rain.

There is only one thing that we can say: it’s Enya through and through. She’s never been one to over complicate a track and that continues even here, after all, why would you change something that’s worked all these years? The only thing that we think will maybe get to people is how often the alleluia section of the song is repeated.

We think that the album will probably do well (we expect it to go to number 1 week of release) but it a welcome come back for the singer.

Rating: 4/5

Sandi Thom // Earthquake

Download @ Amazon.co.uk | Download @ iTunes

It’s been 2 years since we’ve had anything from singer songwriter Sandi Thom (in the form of The Covers Collection, it’s 3 years since an album of own material, Flesh & Blood) but now she’s revealed the first track from the forthcoming album, Weapons of Past Destruction (set for release in 2016) and it comes in the form of Earthquake.

The song sees a return to a pop sound, rather than the blues sound that we’ve heard in recent years from her. Although a song of personal experience, it is also one that will probably resonate with listeners with the theme of having your world shattered and you’re left to pick up the pieces.

Is this return to her pop roots a good thing? Time will only tell but giving but given the recent trend for a sound of yesteryear, it will be interesting to see what the rest of the album sounds like.

Rating: 4/5