Soldier of Love
Sade
Sade, the band, is one of those acts that does it the way I think it should be done — artists, not revenue-generating stars. The band had not produced an album since 2000’s Lovers Rock. What motivated the creation of Soldier of Love wasn’t any kind of obligation; it was because they had something to say. Isn’t that the way art is supposed to be? Sade Adu is one of those vocalists who could sing the phone book, and people would sit and listen, so the band will always have that going for them. And despite a decade separating the release of this and the last album, theirs is a sound and an atmosphere that no one forgets once they’ve experienced them. So no matter how much time they put between releases, there will always be an audience. Soldier of Love was touted as the band’s new direction in sound, but to be honest, it sounds like good-old tried-and-true Sade. Not a bad thing, mind you. The album’s first single, also titled “Soldier of Love,” has an incredible chunky beat and extremely minimal instrumentation, which frames Sade’s voice gorgeously. The 9-track remix package is less mainstream and more creative, incorporating chilled electronic beats, deep house, and several guest raps.
