'Clocks on the wall /it's now or never at all/ I'm gonna give my all' Alicia Keys sings over an explosive, disjointed bass drum turning her new album's lead single, 'New Day' into a triumphant hip hop inspired war cry about assertiveness. With marriage and motherhood for inspiration, Keys has blossomed from the girl who once used her piano as an escape from the turmoil of growing up in Hell's Kitchen New York. On this, Keys' fifth studio album, there is an apparent growth both personally and creatively.
The usually independent singer has drafted in a whose who of collaborators including Jamie XX, Maxwell and the UK's new soul it girl Emeli Sandé to expand her musical palette. The steel drummed groove and infectious hook of 'Limitedless' sees Alicia dip her toes into the Caribbean sound for the first time since her duet, 'Ghetto Story' with dancehall artist Baby Cham in 2006. Elsewhere, Jamie XX's production on 'When it's all over' finds Keys using electronica, drum and bass style beat patterns and synths. There's even an unexpected nod to Detroit dance music hidden within the laid back jazz melodies, synthetic drums and high hats of 'Listen To Your Heart'.
While experimentation is obviously lighting Alicia's fire these days, her signature piano melodies are still at the heart of this record. They accompany lyrics about her own spiritual evolution on the soulful ballad 'brand new me' and the sentimental yet beautifully flawed 'Not Even The King'. The vocals, possessing a new smokier texture, have been left unpolished complete with imperfect notes adding to the humanity of the recording.
Although it is undoubtedly her most musically cohesive and focused record to date, her lyrical ability is not always on par with her natural musicality, leaving the lyrics verging on cliché at times – "Party people say it's a new day". If Keys could find a way to communicate the passion of her music through her lyrics, she just might set the world alight.
Review by Karen Lawler