Gabriella Cilmi // The Sting

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2010 was the last time that we heard from the On A Mission singer before she seemed to drop off the face of world. But given a few years off, Gabriella Cilmi is back and her first single is also the title track of her forthcoming album, The Sting.

In a way we want to say forget what you knew about Cilmi from the days of the chart topping single Sweet About Me & her second album, Ten. This Cilmi has come into her own and still at the tender age of 21. Having left Island and having learnt her lessons, Cilmi has gone off and found a sound that fits her and in our opinion comes somewhere between the two albums. It has a tendency for some dark vibes but it doesn’t detract.

Given the influences that’s recently be listening to whilst bringing her third album to life, it will be interesting to see how much has changed. Still, we recommend a listen as a fan or for the casual listener, check it out and see what Cilmi has become.

Rating: 4/5

New Music Friday: Gabriella Cilmi // Vicious Love

Check out the latest offering from Australian Gabriella Cilmi. First new music since 2010!!

Gabriella Cilmi // Defender

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Gabriella returns with single number 3 from the album Ten and this time it's a double A-side (or what it would be deemed if it had a physical release!)

Defender is a beautiful ballad and quite possibly be ballad of the year. It's also the first ballad that we've heard from Cilmi as a single (past singles have been upbeat dancy numbers) and in essence, is about being there for the one that you care about no matter what happens.

As said, this is a double A and this is where the problem lies. On A Magic Carpet Ride features in the movie 'Soul Boy'. No problem. Except that this song has already been released as the B-side to the On A Mission physical single. It's difficult to understand why a song would be released twice, except to promote the film of course.

Defender as said is a beautiful ballad (previous ballads have been trapped on the last album) although it could be argued that it's release isn't well time. Yes there is the summer romances, but this feels like it would be more at home in Christmas. The only drag is that a previously released track features

Rating:4.5/5

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)

Gabriella Cilmi // On A Mission

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Gabriella Cilmi is back and is back with a bang! On A Mission has a retro disco kinda feel to it but is full of electronic sounds and a kicking beat. In a nutshell, it feels like she’s telling her critics that she doesn’t care what they have to say, this is her and that is that. And if you think that the song sounds great, you should check out the video!

This is a great comeback track for Cilmi after a year of absence, and shapes things up for when her new album, Ten (Rel. Date 22.03.10) is unleashed to the public.

Rating: 5/5