With the sparkling acoustic soul of her 2012 debut 'Is Your Love Big Enough', Lianne La Havas spearheaded what seemed like a new movement in British neo-soul, the cudgels of which were shared with the equally wondrous Laura Mvula, and have been carried even further in recent times by Eska, among others. Compositionally rich, the debut album showcased La Havas' resonant vocals perfectly, while Matt Hales's subtle work at the production controls brought a depth rarely seen on a British debut album.
So, in 2015, we have 'Blood'. 'Blood' is the sound of La Havas all grown up, branching out and, if one were being cynical (one is) grasping for as wide an audience as possible. Of course, in itself there is absolutely nothing wrong with this. Yet, upon each listen to the album, it's hard not to be disappointed that the subtlety and nuance that was so special three years ago feels like it has been pummelled into submission by a more cinematic, widescreen sheen.
That is not by any means to say that this is a poor album. Artists of this calibre come along but rarely. We can all agree, too, that albums released with such a fanfare as 'Blood' has had will almost always feature all the right elements in all the right places. The trouble is, when you're an artist of the potential of Lianne La Havas, what would be a great album for another artist can still feel like something of a disappointment. Unfair, probably, but there it is.
At times, such as on 'What You Don't Do', with its dancehall-infused groove and gloriously swinging chorus, the Paul Epworth-produced opener 'Unstoppable', which brings La Havas' heartache to the fore and on her collaboration with Jamie Lidell, 'Green and Gold', it hints at potential greatness. Sadly though, the sense of the whole, perhaps because of the sheer weight of collaborators and people taking turns in the producer's chair, is that what made Lianne La Havas stand out from the crowd so clearly previously has been somehow lost, or perhaps compromised, in favour of seeking wider acclaim.
So, yes, Lianne La Havas has grown up, branched out, written some devastatingly honest songs, and presented a highly competent album. Here's hoping for even more from this artist, as her star continues to rise.
6/10
Words: Haydon Spenceley
