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Beverley Knight - Affirmation

Beverley Knight, arguably the UK's number one R&B singer and songwriter, has released another fantastic album.

With a career spanning over 10 years and having shot straight into the top ten with her internationally celebrated single "Shoulda Woulda Coulda" Beverley Knight has established herself as a serious world class contender for the R&B crown. Winning three MOBOs, duetting with Jay Kay, Musiq Soulchild and Chaka Khan, and even singing for Nelson Mandela and Mohammed Ali, are but a few of her accomplishments.

"I like music because ... it's my entire life, it's the blood in my veins."
Beverley Knight

After her debut album was described as "one of the best soul albums ever" and with strong support from fans, including Paul McCartney, David Bowie and Prince, this new album is sure to take the UK by storm. Packed full of rocked out R&B tones underpinned by her trademark soulful vocals, this is a remarkable, and entirely co-written collection of extremely personal songs about love, loss, sex and death.

The first single 'Come As You Are' was released June 21 while the album 'Affirmation' was released on Parlophone Records on June 28.

The instant highlight is opening track and lead single "Come as You Are" cowritten with Robbie Williams' ex-partner Guy Chambers, and is a rocky power-soul number à la Tina Turner. It begins with a catchy melody that builds into a crescendo of drums, guitars and swirling organs backing Knight's impassioned, world-class vocals.

The rest of Affirmation is a little more subdued but no less accomplished. "Supasonic" is a fresh-sounding homage to the purple Prince--funky, catchy with a great melody and guitar hook that sucks you in. On the gentler side, "No One ever Loves in Vain", another song with Chambers, is soulful, stripped-down and slinky with a lush piano complimenting Knight perfectly.

A few songs such as "Keep the Fire Burning" and the title track are more contemporary R&B-influenced but not overtly poppy as to cheapen the rest of the of the album. It's this diversity with taste that makes Affirmation another great album from the UK's soul queen.

Review by Georgina Collins

:: AFFIRMATION Tracklisting ::

1. Come As You Are
2. Not Too Late For Love
3. First Time
4. Keep This Fire Burning
5. Straight Jacket
6. No One Ever Loves In Vain
7. Affirmation
8. Supasonic
9. Tea & Sympathy
10. Below My Radar
11. Under The Same Sun
12. Till I See Ya
13. Salvador
14. Remember Me
15. Fatal Factor

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Related links:

1. BeverleyKnight.com
2. Beverley Knight Live (2002)
3. Buy Affirmation CD Album