Multi – platinum Grammy winning singer songwriter Seal’s new album of 12 tracks brings out their own drama, emotion and romance of the past unlike his earlier works. In partnership with David Foster, Seal covers classic tracks of bygone artists of the 60s and 70s in his own impeccable style, paying due respect to their music, reworking them and putting his own stamp of work on it.

So you have neat covers of Sam Cooke’s A change is gonna come, Ann Pebbles unforgettable I can’t stand the rain given a more swinging touch, while we move over to a track that has been covered by many artist If you don’t know me by now originally by Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes that has good background vocals but simmered down slightly. It must be noted that the arrangements are pepped up slightly, clear cut and crisp.

Thus you can see a little more funkiness of Eddie Floyd’s Knock on wood with additional instrumentation, Ben E. King’s Stand by me given good vocal treatment by the Brit born Seal. The sure big standouts is the rocking Here I am (Come and take me) (Al Green), the biblical People get ready and Free (Deniece Williams).

While many may complain as to why Seal has not released original work, this territory he’s gone into shows the artist in a new light, doing covers and bringing back the lost nostalgia that are anyway loved by all around. Very commendable work indeed.

Rating: ****

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira