Description:This third solo outing from former Spice girl Emma Bunton is, in many significant ways, a direct continuation of the nostalgic direction of previous album, Free Me. The sound so vigorously pursued on that album, which retrospectively harks back to the swinging 60s and the romantic days of bossa nova, not only gave Bunton a much neededThis third solo outing from former Spice girl Emma Bunton is, in many significant ways, a direct continuation of the nostalgic direction of previous album, Free Me. The sound so vigorously pursued on that album, which retrospectively harks back to the swinging 60s and the romantic days of bossa nova, not only gave Bunton a much needed niche, but provides a perfect backdrop to her bubblegum-lite vocals. Where Free Me was good, Life In Mono is really good. The same easy-going soul and bossa motifs run through the album, as do the gently sweeping strings and mellifluous brass - but there's a more subtle and production ethic at work that makes the songs feel more sophisticated, more insouciant. The delightfully jaunty "Take Me to Another Town" anchors the album, surrounded by a plethora of happy-go-lucky bliss-pop that includes the Bond-esque title track and the seductive "Undressing You". Things go slightly awry at the end with an unconvincing take on Petula Clark's "Downtown", and perhaps the album wouldn't have suffered from a few more memorable hooks. But all in all, this is some of the freshest and most alluring pop music around right now. --Danny McKenna... (more)(less)
Explore
