{"id":11311,"date":"2013-10-13T18:24:50","date_gmt":"2013-10-13T17:24:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nusic.org.uk\/wordpress\/?p=11311"},"modified":"2014-07-16T17:35:29","modified_gmt":"2014-07-16T16:35:29","slug":"harleighblu-forget-me-not-album-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nusic.org.uk\/wordpress\/harleighblu-forget-me-not-album-review\/","title":{"rendered":"HARLEIGHBLU (Artist of the Month) – ‘Forget Me Not’ Album Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

If – for whatever reason – you’ve lost faith in British Soul, then I urge you to go out & grab \u2018Forget Me Not<\/em>\u2019. In a genre still grappling with a Winehouse-shaped hole, our very own princess of Soul HARLEIGHBLU<\/a><\/strong> is shaping up to be its next poster girl. And with national radio support and mainstream broadsheet coverage, there\u2019s no reason she can\u2019t go all the way to take the crown as Queen Bee.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2018Forget Me Not<\/em>\u2019 is a glorious listen; 11 tracks that mark a triumphant return to vintage Soul. Though only 21, HARLEIGHBLU<\/a><\/strong> has mastered the knack of writing songs that sound decades old, brought bang up to date with a modern, almost Hip-Hop twist.The opening tracks are packed with jazzy grooves and slurred vocals, smokey sweet in their delivery which – if you close your eyes – could fool you into believing you\u2019re listening to a contemporary of Billie & Nina. \u2018Play Me\u2019,<\/em> the debut single from the album, is a delicious slice of urban Soul that could have been lifted straight from \u2018Frank<\/em>\u2019 whilst \u2018Love of my Life<\/em>\u2019 – a personal highlight – is mellower in approach, shimmering beautifully amongst a sea of piano and hazy vocals. \u2018This Way<\/em>\u2019 and \u2018Sittin\u2019 By the Window\u2019<\/em> offer bold breakaways, harnessing a grittier side which compliments the album\u2019s natural edge before final track \u2018Love Like This\u2019<\/em> closes the album on a tumultuous, string-backed, scatt-inspired high.<\/p>\n

As an album, it\u2019s a triumph. As a debut, it\u2019s an outstanding achievement and titillating taste of what HARLEIGHBLU<\/strong><\/a> is capable of. In the album notes, she hopes this is an album \u2018Nottingham can be proud of\u2019. It is.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2018Forget Me Not<\/em>\u2019 is out Monday 14th October on Tru Thoughts Records. You can get a copy in town from Fopp or HMV (the two local stores that have confirmed they are selling it) or order on iTunes HERE. <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Yours in Love of New Music,<\/p>\n

Maddie Hammond. X<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If – for whatever reason – you’ve lost faith in British Soul, then I urge you to go out & grab \u2018Forget Me Not\u2019. In a genre still grappling with a Winehouse-shaped hole, our very own princess of Soul HARLEIGHBLU is shaping up to be its next poster girl. And with national radio support and…<\/p>\n

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