With the movie ‘Last Christmas’ still playing at theatres areound the world during Christmas time, we cannot forget the singer formerly of super group Wham! of the 80s, Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou aka George Michael, who gave us masisve hits during his prime time as a soloist and who passed away on Christmas Day in 2016. 3 years down the line and we pay tribute to one of his best albums.

After the success of Wham! he could’ve kicked back and watched the dollars roll in, but instead, he got back into the studio after 8 long years and knocked up this ultra – accomplished, infectious 14 track album.

Michael returned to Sony Music after a spell of court cases to dissolve his contract with the company in the 1990s. So then, have we been transported back to a few years? Yes. The album has links to his earlier works, for as usual there’s sleaze and slut, but there’s also a whole new dimension in the recordings with added rhythms to create a new sound that are based on his feelings, personal experiences and present situations in the world.

You could pick up the tunes with the slow title track Patience, picking up pace with the groovy, Amazing that’s pretty much so. Michael pays a tribute to John Lemon and Elvis Presley in John and Elvis (Are Dead) that features Michael playing the Lennon owned piano he bought at an auction for 1.5 million pounds. Though Michael didn’t bring out an album for sometime, he did release two singles which are included here, the peppy Shoot the Dog created a storm in America due to its political overtones between US President George Bush and British PM Tony Blair. The other Freek ‘04 displays the foul mouthed side of Michael, both bringing back memories of his hits in 1987.

‘Patience’ sees both a renovation and an evolution in George and his music while retaining the signature sound – lush, dramatic ballads and up-tempo songs. Other tracks that you could play on are the simple Cars and Trains, American Angel, and Please send me someone that is simply beautiful.

The Grammy award winner displays breathtaking vocals on the whole album and in the storyline type Round Here that’s meaningful with the same going for My mother had a brother. Good musical score shows the artists’ versatile and liberal style. Program the upbeat pieces and you have the fully charged funked up Flawless (Go to the city) and Previous Box that are pure club material.

Though George has written, arranged and produced on the album most tracks himself, musician and producer Johnny Douglas has also been part of the project.

So if you’ve craved all these years for fresh and sexy stuff from Michael and were desperate for some uptempo pop to get down and dirty to? you’ve found your man. All in all, a welcome return to form. What has to be the best part of this album is that all the songs sound like they’re been thoughfully penned and created. It might turn out that the album sells by the name, but you would be well advised to pick it up for the songs too.

Lyrics included.

Rating: ***

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira