sat 23/11/2024

CD: Fleur East – Love, Sax and Flashbacks | reviews, news & interviews

CD: Fleur East – Love, Sax and Flashbacks

CD: Fleur East – Love, Sax and Flashbacks

The X Factor alumni shows that she has sax appeal

Lean back: Fleur's bringing home the bacon

Recently, after listening to the over-polished tryhard that is Justin Bieber’s Purpose, I concluded that it was no Off the Wall. That still stands, but Love Sax and Flashbacks, the debut from Fleur East has a bloody good (horn) stab at providing us with a passable impression of it. A bit karaoke perhaps, but fuck it, karaoke’s fun. Or so I’m told.

Fleur East is, as you may know, part of the X Factor alumni. Her key moment on the show was a rendition of "Uptown Funk" and album opener "Sax" sounds like the brief was: ‘Something like "Uptown Funk", but not "Uptown Funk". But really like "Uptown Funk". Unless you’ve been in a panic room awaiting the start of World War Three, you’ll already know this though – the bloody thing is everywhere.

It is, of course, the best thing here, but not by the measure you might expect. Despite some underwhelming mo-meh-nts ("Breakfast", "More and More") there’s much to like. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t music that’s going to change the world, but it categorically couldn’t give a shit – it’s way too busy having fun. It does everything that good pop should, and it does it surprisingly well.

“Gold Watch” is cut from the same cloth as “Sax” and has single written all over it, including, as it does, a catchy-as-hell refrain that references both a primary school game and a nursery rhyme in the sort of joyful celebration that Robbie Williams thought he’d nailed in his terminal misfire “Candy”.

Heavy funk loops give “Love Me or Leave Me Alone” and “Like That” enough weight for them to be able to more than bear their pop confection frosting and East’s comfortable, if not massively challenging, flow. Meanwhile, “Baby Don’t Dance” brings the 45 King’s “The 900 Number” out of retirement for one last jump around the block.

What I’m trying to say is that I rather like this. I’m also trying really hard to forget that Simon Cowell has any involvement. Pop album of the year? Not sure, but I’ll take Fleur East over Adele any day of the week.

 

 

Love, Sax and Flashbacks does everything that good pop should, and it does it surprisingly well

rating

Editor Rating: 
4
Average: 4 (1 vote)

Share this article

Add comment

The future of Arts Journalism

 

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters