Dean has returned delivering a delightful sophomore album that will make you want to swing and sway as she takes you along a journey of honesty and intimacy, following up from her applaudable debut ‘Messy’, with far more eyes and ears excitedly anticipating her newest project.
The 26-year-old East-Londoner has seen a surge in popularity after successful singles such as ‘It isn’t perfect but it might’ from Bridget Jones Mad About the Boy, and ‘Man I Need’, which hasn’t left the top 10 since entering 8 weeks ago, peaking at no.1. And has now bagged herself no.1 on the UK’s ‘Official Albums Chart Top 100’
Now I don’t want to be that guy, but.. I did in fact correctly predict a blow-up year for Dean in my journal at the start of the year – I know, I know, a very reliable and worthy source.
Despite the informal nature of the claim, you can’t doubt its accuracy. Dean has been hard to avoid this past summer, and it’s all thanks to her soulful and joyous sound that beautifully displays the realities of navigating life and relationships.
The addictive melody of ‘Man I Need’ proves Dean knows how to write a damn catchy track. If you’re looking for a new karaoke tune, this Man’s your guy. Yet it’s not just a light song, the lyrics are honest and whole, providing a very genuine warmth that present throughout the album.
The brass flares and vibey groove of ‘Close Up’ create a vulnerable contrast to its melancholic lyrics, that bounce off the more hopeful tone of ‘So Easy (To Fall In Love)’. Indeed, the song is easy to fall in love with, pulling from a light and breezy improvisational sound that makes it a true joy.
The album doesn’t shy away from jumping between loud and intimate tracks, which while can seem jarring at points, arguably is a strength. Much of Deans work here seems to be attempting to showcase the realities of life and the beauty in its contrasts, with this switch highlighting that. Sometimes life feels easy, often times its hard, and the album aims to show this.
Sometimes life can even feel like a movie; (forget the cringe transition) the same can be said for track 9 ‘Loud’. Despite the attempts of many actors to display their prowess and capabilities to play 007, the track could arguably suffice as an audition for its lead single. The string elements and delightful vocals provided, create a captivating and powerful sound that feels equally rich and intimate, in what is one of the most impressive tracks of the album.
That’s not to say that the album doesn’t have its flaws, with some songs suffering from a lack of evolution through there duration.
‘A Couple Minutes’ seems to fall into this. Despite having a very smooth and timeless sound acting as a very enjoyable base, it lacks growth through the song with the chorus fading into the mix, making it feel slightly one-note.
Not to say that there is a need for songs to reinvent in their duration, but it should feel like the effect of a purposeful decision, rather than lack of innovation.
Thankfully the closing song ‘Ive Seen It’ hits this balance in its sweet spot. Whilst not as rich as its comparison ‘Carmen’ which closed Dean’s prior album, the track carries a particularly endearing and personal sound, which does well to capture the soul of the overall project. It’s paired back melody and repetitive structure gives an intimate and poetic warmth, that while isn’t one to stream on its own, sums up the wholesome, fuzzy, upsetting, and somewhat volatile nature of love.
My Conclusion?
The Art of Loving cements Dean as a talented British star producing genuinely honest and heartfelt music that’s deserving of its surge in success, in a time when the charts appear to be supporting far more ‘Ordinary’ and arguably undeserving work. Deans soulful blend of genres creates a warm and intimate body of work where she shines, delivering an album which feels as organic as its subject matter deserves.
Early Access Provided by Chuff Media
Hi, I’m Neil Highlands Singer, a third-year student studying Media and Journalism alongside Social Policy. As Deputy Editor-in-Chief, I get to spend my time working across a range of topics and holding a varied range of responsibilities. This is exciting as I enjoy a range of interests and hobbies outside of Uni, with a special spot for film, sports, and the wider creative industries.
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