Love Letters – E.J. (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

Tapping into everything that made commercial R&B and chart-storming soul-pop so big in the ’80s and ’90s, Love Letters, E.J.‘s latest album, is that sound being brought up to date for the discerning modern mainstream music fan. Imagine if the likes of Whitney, Mariah, or even Mary J. Blige were breaking through today; do that and you have a great starting point for the music found here.

Understanding that the opening track of any album is all about first impressions, Love Letters opens with a memorable one, and “I’m in Love with You Tonight” is one of those timeless songs. Blending the seductive tones of soul music with the sheer infectiousness of the pop world, it is the sort of song that sounds as if you have been listening to it all your life, and if that isn’t the definition of a classic, I don’t know what it.

Proving that this is an album that is as forward-thinking as it is about tapping into the familiar, “When You Call My Name,” which follows, is built on cutting-edge beats and a spacious, contemporary style that blends a classic ballad with a modern dancefloor groove and in doing so paves a way towards a brilliant and bright future for soul music.

If that brace of opening songs shows us that this is a sound that spans eras and genres, “In Your Eyes” shows how easily E.J. can bridge geographies, too. Drawing on her Nigerian heritage, this song is built on Afro-beat-infused rhythms, and its seductive groove is carried by an equally seductive, sax-soaked, and sophisticated melody.

“Hurry” is one of those big songs, with E.J.’s commanding vocals starting in an understated place where staccato guitars build a punchy background. As the song progresses, it is enveloped in myriad, marvellous and mellifluous sonics until we are carried away on anthemic crescendoes and feelings of longing and love.

The album concludes as it began, with “Fresh Start” again being one of those timeless-sounding songs from the golden age of the soul diva. The vocal blend of power and control, not to mention the song’s scintillating style, evokes the sound of The Soul Siren herself, Roberta Flack. And I don’t think that E.J. could find yourself in better company.

At sixteen songs, Love Letters is hardly a short album, and many artists would find themselves resorting to filler tracks or dropping the standards to make up such numbers. Not E.J.! Now, I’m not saying that every track found here could be a single, but there is such strong songwriting, such elegant and eloquent vocal delivery, and such engaging sounds and well-crafted songs that the benchmark is remarkable throughout.

Actually, forget what I just said; I AM saying that any track here could be released as a single and find favour with audiences and critics alike.

Love Letters is released on July 25th

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