Album: The Art of Loving
Artist: Olivia Dean
At the press of play, the airy alto voice serenades with the title track “The Art of Loving”, and you can catch the soulful force and light pop buoyancy vibe. This intro track signals that a gem of a voice lies ahead. The following track,“Nice to Each Other” has a clean groove and simple lyrics that can reach out to everyone as a message of fun and surprises. It moves with ease from a snare drum, that drives the beat like you’re in cruise control .“Lady Lady” is up next, highlighting the growth and differences between how Olivia used to be, and what she is coming into be. It’s an ode to the liberation and independence of a woman. “Close Up” is a silky piano rich tune, with a lyrical hint of elusiveness, and reminiscent of Amy Winehouse’s signature baselines. However, Olivia still makes it her own sound with the rifts and pitch changes. The next track “So Easy” (To Fall in Love), is the carefree dance floor favorite. The blaring horns and maracas blend together to give the track elements of a feel of a jazz fusion and latin rock lovechild.“Let Alone The One You Love” answers the questions of a perceived love, in between the lines, from the depths of a conflicted soul, contemplating hoisted feelings versus moving on. The Wurlitzer electric piano chords, bass guitar and background vocals on this one, provide a crisp, cool and beautiful symphony.
The second half of the album begins with the upbeat “Man I Need”. This one has a clean beat to nod your head and pat your foot to.“Something In-Between” follows behind. It’s carried out with a subtle electric guitar and a drum machine that moves with the wind on an up and down melody. This is a cry out for keeping something good going, no matter what the label is on the relationship. The next tune “Loud” is a strings, guitar and piano cosmos, that could serve as the perfect background music in a romantic comedy. Olivia serenades while painting a fairytale picture, as this track emits a singer and a storyteller, in the same vein.“Baby Steps” is the next track which gives a very humanistic aura that anyone can relate to with its lyrics. This track will knock your socks off, and could be an after-hours spot on a Friday night score, that keeps the party going. This truck is my second favorite track on the album. The following track “A Couple Minutes” is my absolute favorite track on the album. Olivia bends the notes perfectly and rifts effortlessly on this one. In this track, there’s a line that says,“Love’s never wasted, when it’s shared”. This line cuts you like a razor blade. This is a wonderful arrangement with a soft and sweet harmonious chorus, that wraps up with a delightful fade out. The final track“I’ve Seen It”, is a bright and darling arrangement, that provides for a homelike feeling. It has a coming together peaceful tone to end the album.
This sophomore album from Olivia Dean is a solid, lovely and marvelous body of work. It should convincingly stand Dean out from the crowd, and be the one the gets Dean into the next atmosphere of her career. This is easily my favorite album of this year.
