I’ve always had a deep connection to Melanie C and her music. As a young sporty gay kid, her persona of Sporty Spice spoke to me as she demonstrated you could be yourself and do anything you wanted.
Looking back on that time (and what’s showcased lyrically over the last two albums), Melanie struggled herself during that time while enjoying the success and what it brought her, but through music, is exercising those demons in her own way.
On her ninth studio album, ‘Melanie C’, she explores more of those personal feelings and puts them on the table for all to see. And what a collection of songs it makes. This is an ‘album of the year’ contender for me.
Melanie has been spoiled for choice on singles because literally every song on the ten track standard edition could be a single.
Lead single ‘Who I Am’ sees her team up with long time collaborators Ash Howes and Biff Stannard with great success. It’s fun, it’s honest and extremely catchy.
Lyrically, I fell in love with several tracks, but ‘Here I Am’ was a standout. There was something in the way it tells her story that captured my attention. I also love the contrast of what could be sad lyrics with the upbeat beats to compliment it.
There is a real life to the music on this album. While previous album ‘Version Of Me’ was more subtle and experimental, in a lot of ways, this feels classic but modern. It has elements of The Weeknd, Robyn and her own sound mixed throughout which really works. I am happy every time she releases music to be able to say how high quality it is – it never feels cheap.
Her voice sounds as strong, confident and sure as it’s ever sounded. It’s always stood out in the crowd and I think through lyrical honesty and beautiful writing, it really comes to life on this album. It’s aged like a fine wine and has a clarity and range to it like never before. Perhaps the writing unleashed that.
I’ve always been a Melanie C fan and she always manages to find a way to tell her story. This album feels like her most personal to date but also she feels alive.
It’s honestly been a privilege to listen to it over the past week and I know fans of hers will fall in love with it when they hear it too.
VERDICT : 5/5.
MUST LISTEN : Blame It On Me, Here I Am, End Of Everything.
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