Album review: LEO SAYER – Selfie

May 5th, 2019 by jason

Edsel Records [Release date 26.04.19]

Leo Sayer, is like fellow 70’s and early 80’s singer songwriters Gilbert O’Sullivan, Chris de Burgh and David Essex, a name that can still fill large theatres up and down the UK, despite being under the mainstream musical radar and not chart regulars anymore.

On his latest album ‘Selfie’ Leo Sayer wanted to create an album entirely by himself, as he explains “…it’s been very satisfying. I’ve worked completely in a vacuum, alone in a studio at my new home in Australia, far away from all distractions.”

The only outside help has been a few co-writes on songs with the likes of Albert Hammond and Lee Dagger, who had a no.1 hit with a dance tune based on Leo Sayer’s hit ‘Thunder In My Heart Again’ in 2006.

Leo Sayer has never been shy of tackling current affairs in his songs and ‘Selfie’ continues this with the dance flavoured ‘Occupy’ and a touch of Paul Simon on ‘Refugees’.

One standout after just one play has to be his tribute to Marvin Gaye, Nat King Cole and Aretha Franklin on the suitably soul flavoured ‘Soul Mining’. ‘Save Your Tears’ treads an AOR path, whilst ‘Everybody Lies’ – with its soft jazz shuffle – recalls some of his 70s songs and it also has Leo Sayer doing a guitar solo.

At fifteen songs not all hit the spot like ‘Only Love’, overall though Leo Sayer’s fanbase will enjoy this one and he will surely pick up some new fans with songs like ‘Soul Mining’ and ‘I Am Your Man’. ***1/2

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)