Emeli Sande was catapulted to global stardom with the release of her debut album Our Version of Events. Spawning hit after hit, the album sold more than 2.3 million copies in the UK so expectations were high for her 2016 follow up Long Live the Angels. That album was well received but it’s sold a fraction of Our Version of Events and hasn’t really produced a hit single. A year on from the album’s release, Sande has unleashed an EP titled Kingdom Coming.
Kingdom Coming features 6 new songs starting with Soon featuring Dave East. The dreamy beat-driven number is hypnotic as Sande’s delicate vocals float over the melody. It certainly eases you into the EP and sets the tone for a mellow collection of songs.
Love Not War is a piano-led number that infuses a little jazz vibe into Sande’s sound while Higher is a grittier affair featuring guest vocals from Giggs. Deep has a 90s soul feel to it and Sande’s vocal sounds oddly detached from the production.
The strongest track on the EP is lead single Starlight, which appears here in acoustic form. It showcases Sande at her best allowing her voice to shine free of polished production. The song recalls some of her biggest hits and she sounds fantastic on it.
The EP closes with the title track, which features Wretch 32, and it’s a very subtle track that sadly doesn’t leave much of an impression. Wretch 32 doesn’t add much to it either and can’t inject the song with a shot of much-needed energy.
Kingdom Coming will likely keep Sande’s fans happy until she releases her third album but it’s not the strongest collection of music she’s produced. Our Version of Events hit a chord with the mainstream and Long Live the Angels saw Sande progress her sound with more risks. Kingdom Come sits somewhere in between and it’s not as memorable as her previous releases.
[brid video=”185534″ player=”531″ title=”Emeli Sand Starlight (Lyric Video)”]
Track listing: 1. Soon (feat Dave East) 2. Love Not War 3. Higher (feat Giggs) 4. Deep 5. Starlight (Acoustic) 6. Kingdom Coming (feat Wretch 32) Record label: Virgin EMI Records Release date: 3rd November 2017
