Emeli Sande – My Kind of Love

I’ve said much of my levels of disappointment that Emeli Sande’s debut album never capitalised on the quality of its preceding singles Heaven and Daddy, instead offering a collection of minimal ballads. Emeli Sande, as a star, is fascinating, brilliant, charming. But the album felt half-formed. Of the blurry panoply of down-tempo numbers that filled the record though, My Kind of Love was without doubt one of the better ones, and its choice as Emeli’s next single is as obvious as a full moon on a dark night. It’s a haunting Alicia Keys-styled spooko-ballad full of whispery piano chords and Emeli’s vocals are afforded the space to show off their full range. It’s the very essence of a made-for-radio single in a post-Adele world, and while My Kind of Love possesses none of the dynamism of Heaven, it’s a reassuring foundation stone for Emeli as an artist. Because say what you want, the girl is an incredible talent.

Emeli Sande - Next To Me

Emeli Sande goes for a change of pace with new single Next To Me, brushing off the Massive Attack-styled beats n' strings combo of her past two releases in exchange for the ultimate in stripped back soulful gorgeousness. Throw in a big brass section, mix it with an ol'-time groove and you're sorted.

The lasting impression of Next To Me is Sande's voice. How could it be anything else? Not only is the Scottish up and comer obviously immensely talented, but her voice goes beyond technical definitions of talent and into sheer sense and feeling, brushing through the body like a breeze on the most beautiful of long summer days.

Performances like the one she gave of the song on Jools Holland are the stuff careers are built on, landmark foundations composed of a moment in time, frozen in an instant where all that remains is the singer, the song, and the listener. Emeli Sande bridges the connection like no other popular female star out there - even Adele, in all her bombast and fire, can't touch Sande's gentle, softer tones.

Next To Me proves that sometimes, less is indeed more. It's easy to dismiss 'Star of 2012!' accolades, but in Sande's case, it's oh so justified.

The BRIT Awards nominations launch!

It's a passing of the baton of sorts - albeit in a posh hotel down by the river. That's it, the annual glamorous BRIT Awards nomination party where those fresh and feisty up and comers have their performances sandwiched between a load of video montage packages of the nominated artists - fun for all the family basically.

This year, Greg James will be taking to the Savoy Hotel to host the show where Emeli Sande will pick up her Critics' Choice bong from last year's winner Jessie J. Can Emeli repeat Jessie's mega-success? Judging by the rapturous acclaim that greeted her debut single Heaven, the odds look promising.

Her follow-up Daddy was offered as a free download on iTunes last week and it's all kinds of amazing - gorgeous string sections, 90s-inflected beats and of course Emeli's sumptuous vocals right at the heart of it all.

Ed Sheeran will be giving a performance on the night, so there's that to look forward to as well. After the show, you'll be able to catch up on all the highlights at the BRITs official website.

And then it's on to the big show itself, which will be held at the O2 Arena on the 21st February - bring it on!

New releases round-up - 15th August 2011

Kids In Glass Houses - In Gold Blood

Back with a harder, more gritty sound, Wales' current favourite rockers make it three times lucky with their new album. Following on from the success of last year's Dirt record (which included the amazing Undercover Lover), In Gold Blood is all about the adrenaline, thrills and spills. If you like your rock with the taste of gasoline and sweat-stained venues all over it, In Gold Blood is the album for you - Kids In Glass Houses, re-affirming again why they're one of the most exciting young rock groups around.

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Charlie Simpson - Young Pilgrim

He's been in Busted, dallied around with Fightstar, but his solo venture is without a doubt his most comfortable fit to date. Turning to melodic acoustic riffs and folk-tinged melodies, Charlie Simpson's Young Pilgrim album is a real surprise delight for the summer. At its best it surges into Coldplay mega-ballad territory, all emotion and an authenticity that was only ever hinted at in Simpson's previous work. Here, we see him for real, all gimmicks stripped aside - the results are highly impressive.

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Emeli Sande - Heaven

Twitter has been in something of a frenzy over Emeli in the past few weeks, but us die-hard Cheryl Cole fans have been aware of her for rather longer. After all, she co-wrote the b-side Boys to Cheryl's 3 Words single. Now there's a fact for you! These days though, Emeli is making waves on her own, putting out soulful pop records like Heaven, which comes on like a lost Massive Attack hit. Top stuff.

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Wombats - Our Perfect Disease

The last Wombats single Techno Fan was something of a revelation - finally a song from them that was not just bearable, but very, very good. Our Perfect Disease thankfully takes a number of pointers from the aforementioned track then as its full of the same bonkers synth moments and catchy hooks that marked Techno Fan out above the indie-by-numbers songs that were previously The Wombats' calling card. With the guitars packing a surprising crunch, in another life this could even have been a cut from the latest Bloc Party album.

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