1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gets better with every listen, 13 Sep 2011
Shena got quite a bit of play on Radio 2 with songs like 'Can't Stop The Rain', 'Nasty Little Rumour' and 'My Fantasy'but this didn't translate to a lot of success. Shame, because she is a totally class act - full of retro vibes but also totally bang up to date. This is a combination of tracks from her previous two releases but with the inclusion of her brand new song 'My Brave Face' - her best yet. An unbelivable piece of soul and heartbreak. The accompanying video is a tour de force and I recommend this artist and her music to all.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent album!, 31 Aug 2011
At last - Shena's stunning songs get a full release! Whilst some of these songs have only been previously available on promo you can now get them all on this properly released CD.
Shena fans will already know songs like Can't Stop The Rain and Nasty Little Rumour, but it's the ballads that I hadn't heard before that really stand out. My Brave Face is beautiful, and Where Can I Hide is as good a ballad as I've heard this year (and that includes Adele!)
A fabulous mixture of dance, disco and great soul music.
Essential.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Third time lucky?, 28 Aug 2011
Well, this is weird. Almost exactly one year since the release of '2079' Shèna has released a follow up album with many of the same songs on it. The cover shot (full on disco diva meltdown) appears to be from the same session used for her even earlier 'One Man Woman' album, which also contained virtually the same line-up of tracks. So that's three outings for many of these songs. On top of this, there is the simultaneous release of a remixed 'Homewrecker' which originates from '2079' and isn't even included on this album.
All of which won't come as as surprise to long-time fans of nu-disco queen Shèna; it's been a frustrating experience to know that the UK has such a fantastic, soulful singer in our midst who is routinely ignored by the mainstream media and yet seems constantly on the verge of breaking through. It's hard to tell whether the oddly disjointed album campaigns are the cause or the result of the difficulty in getting tv and print exposure.
The music remains exquisite. `Cant' Stop The Rain' is an full-on tribute to the sound of Chic, fully capturing both the unstoppable monster bassline and also the `crying at the discotheque' melancholy behind the glamour. `Nasty Little Rumour' is a witty challenge to a cheating partner and has the best chorus here. 'My Fantasy' again has that classic disco sound (this time with more than a nod to Earth, Wind & Fire). There are two new upbeat tracks for this album - 'Shameless' is a galloping piece of celebratory disco kitsch whilst 'Dont' Get Me Wrong' has the feel of Vicki Sue Robinson's melodramatic 'Turn The Beat Around' in the chorus and more Chic-ish touches throughout.
Compared to her previous album, there is a noticeable rowing back towards a traditional soul sound (away from autotuned effects & throwaway lyrics). In particular, 'My Brave Face' is a Gladys Knight-esque weepy that will touch your heart. Similarly, 'Where Can I Hide', 'Where Did It All Go Right' and the Dionne Warwick cover are sheer class and showcase Shèna's richly nuanced vocals to full effect.
With a voice that soars, comparisons with the great (and also criminally under-appreciated) Martha Wash are spot on. Shèna has already appeared on a huge number of anonymous dance hits but must, surely, get some recognition sooner or later as an outstanding artist in her own right?
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No