Songstress Sade has a thing for “love”. This is her third album in a row with that word in the title. For her, it’s a catch-all for romantic allure, which this time comes with the theme of war. Even the Babyfather ballad, presumably dedicated to her own daughter, has “troops and extra backup standing by”.
It’s a waste of resources though. The one place mother Sade needs back-up is on the choruses of these songs, which rarely sway from the narrow melodic range we’ve come to expect from her. It, along with the smooth bassy jazz grooves it’s presented upon, represents her comfort zone. But slow neo-soul music only goes so far.
There’s some impressive, subtle yet sporadic, instrumentation happening during the last third of the title track, which marches like the drum-beat of a military band. But the best song doesn’t come until the end. “In my heart, your love has found the safest hiding place,” she sings to her soldier.
my rating = 3 of 5
2010
