eMusic Review 0
How has Alison “Alf” Moyet become one of the UK’s most underappreciated artists? At a time when her spiritual descendant, Adele, dominates global album sales, the former Yazoo vocal powerhouse has struggled to find a record label that doesn’t demand a set of Etta James cover versions for her next album. The ever-likeable and honest Moyet would probably happily take some of the blame for her spell in the cultural wilderness. By her own admission, she has suffered from crippling anxieties and made some questionable creative choices. Her 1985 cover of “That Ole Devil Called Love” may have been her biggest hit, but Moyet isn’t even a jazz fan. Rather unfairly she’s become known as a reliable purveyor of safe, sanitised blue-eyed soul when, in truth, the childhood buddy of most of Depeche Mode and collaborator with Wilko Johnson, is a rather more restless, adventurous soul.
Kudos then to Cooking Vinyl for releasing the minutes, Moyet’s eighth solo album and, by some considerable margin, her best. Key to its success is Moyet’s producer, Guy Sigsworth, who has worked with Bjork and Madonna, and who shares Moyet’s desire to ruffle the hair of orthodox song structures.
Album opener “Horizon Flame” is a gentle… read more »
