Despite establishing herself as a global force to be reckoned with, Delta Goodremās music oddly stopped being promoted outside of Australia following the release of her second album āMistaken Identityā in 2004. That meant that here in the UK, where Goodrem had built a solid following, fans werenāt easily able to get their hands on the singer-songwriterās music until streaming firmly embedded itself into our lives. Third album āDeltaā, released in 2007 had zero promotion in the UK and most fans outside of Australia had no idea that her fourth album āChild of the Universeā had even been released. Thanks to Music on Vinyl, thatās all being put right with the continuation of their vinyl releases of Goodremās catalogue.
Already weāve had āInnocent Eyesā, āMistaken Identityā, āDeltaā and ‘Only Santa Knows‘, and now Music on Vinyl is continuing its releases with āChild of the Universeā (2012), āWings of the Wildā (2016) and āI Honestly Love Youā (2018). First up is āChild of the Universeā which is getting a limited run of 1,500 copies on silver coloured 2-LP 180-gram vinyl. While sadly not a gate-fold release, āChild of the Universeā does at least come with an over-sized 8-page colour booklet, a replica of the CD album sleeve and notes. Iām a big fan of this new addition to vinyl releases and I hope it catches on with more artists!
Following on from the more experimental pop sound of āDeltaā, āChild of the Universeā is a return to the sound that made Goodrem a household name. The albumās lead single was the bouncy āSitting on Top of the Worldā, a pop/rock blend that showcases Goodremās inate knack for a catchy melody. With a powerhouse vocal, the song marries the songwriter-driven sound of āInnocent Eyesā with the poppier parts of āDeltaā. Second single āDancing With a Broken Heartā, which was a moderate hit in Australia, went on to be recorded by UK pop group Steps for their āTears on the Dancefloor: Crying at the Discoā album in 2017. The song is often considered to be one of Goodremās lesser singles but honestly, itās a pop-tastic moment that genuinely puts a smile on my face.
Elsewhere on the album the acoustic-driven āKnocked Outā has a subtle folk influence, āHunters and the Wolvesā is a bold and dramatic moment that slowly builds as its progresses, and āSafe to Believeā serves as both a piano masterclass and a reminder of just how powerful Goodrem is when she hits the heights of what she can do. The albumās highlight, for me at least, is the piano ballad āIām Not Readyā. Goodrem is at her finest when sheās accompanied by piano and the other instrumentation is pared back. The song is an emotional moment that sends shivers down the spine, and itās a reminder that sheās one of the worldās finest artists.
The album closes with the rousing āWhen My Stars Come Outā, featuring a stellar vocal from Goodrem, and the atmospheric beat-laden āControlā. The two songs combined provide a strong finish to an album that is very enjoyable if not right up there with Goodremās finest output.
āChild of the Universeā isnāt my favourite album in Goodremās catalogue but it certainly has its moments. Overall itās a strong record but it doesnāt quite reach the heights of her first two albums. That being said, itās far better and more cohesive than many other artists manage, itās just a victim of the high standards that Goodrem established with her prior albums. This Music on Vinyl release is a must-have for the singerās fans and itās a beautifully pressed item that presents crystal clear audio, allowing fans to hear more depth in the record than they ever have before.
Track list: Side A ā 1. Child of the Universe 2. Touch 3. Wish You Were Here Side B ā 1. Knocked Out 2. Sitting On Top of the World 3. Iām Not Ready 4. Hunters and the Wolves Side C ā 1. Dancing With a Broken Heart (Album Version) 2. Hypnotized 3. Safe to Believe 4. The Speed of Life Side D ā 1. War on Love 2. I Lost All Love 3. When My Stars Come Out 4. Control Released by: Sony Music / Music on Vinyl Release date: 26th January 2024 Buy āChild of the Universeā now
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