Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

After a critically-acclaimed foray into the Billie Holiday back catalogue in 2015, Liverpudlian hitmaker Rebecca Ferguson finds herself back in pop soul territory with her fourth album. As Ferguson has pointed out, this is a highly personal album and one that is, in her words, "honest and emotionally complex." Nonetheless, the former X Factor finalist has thankfully bucked the current trend of mainstream artists who churn out songs that endlessly look inward by offering up something that will hopefully inspire young women in particular to never to be defined by the situation they find themselves in. Obviously drawing from personal experience, the self-effacing title track seems to sum up the refreshingly non-diva attitude of the singer by highlighting her flaws as well as a determination to get up and start again whenever she's knocked down. In the same song, lines like "I'm praying to God come on lessen this load" hint at matters of faith although including an expletive a mere three lines later does seem unnecessary. Supremely candid songs like "Mistress" and "Don't Want You Back" see Ferguson stand her ground in terms of dysfunctional relationships whilst the hopeful "Waiting For Me" may very well be about a faith journey as much as it could be about a love interest. As ever, it's Ferguson's powerhouse voice that takes centre stage and producer Troy Miller (Mark Ronson, Amy Winehouse) has been careful to give the singer a musical backdrop that remains interesting throughout - largely through alternating between real band sounds and electronic dance elements - whilst ensuring the voice and message are given enough room to breathe. The mature song of compromise "I'll Meet You There" rounds off yet another quality album from this artist of substance.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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