Despite establishing herself as a global force to be reckoned with, Delta Goodrem’s music oddly stopped being promoted outside of Australia following the release of her second album ‘Mistaken Identity’ in 2004. That meant that here in the UK, where Goodrem had built a solid following, fans weren’t easily able to get their hands on the singer-songwriter’s music until streaming firmly embedded itself into our lives. Third album ‘Delta’, released in 2007 had zero promotion in the UK and most fans outside of Australia had no idea that her fourth album ‘Child of the Universe’ had even been released. Thanks to Music on Vinyl, that’s all being put right with the continuation of their vinyl releases of Goodrem’s catalogue.
Already we’ve had ‘Innocent Eyes’, ‘Mistaken Identity’, ‘Delta’ and ‘Only Santa Knows‘, and now Music on Vinyl is continuing its releases with ‘Child of the Universe’ (2012), ‘Wings of the Wild’ (2016) and ‘I Honestly Love You’ (2018). First up is ‘Child of the Universe’ 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, ‘Child of the Universe’ does at least come with an over-sized 8-page colour booklet, a replica of the CD album sleeve and notes. I’m 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 ‘Delta’, ‘Child of the Universe’ is a return to the sound that made Goodrem a household name. The album’s lead single was the bouncy ‘Sitting on Top of the World’, a pop/rock blend that showcases Goodrem’s inate knack for a catchy melody. With a powerhouse vocal, the song marries the songwriter-driven sound of ‘Innocent Eyes’ with the poppier parts of ‘Delta’. Second single ‘Dancing With a Broken Heart’, which was a moderate hit in Australia, went on to be recorded by UK pop group Steps for their ‘Tears on the Dancefloor: Crying at the Disco’ album in 2017. The song is often considered to be one of Goodrem’s lesser singles but honestly, it’s a pop-tastic moment that genuinely puts a smile on my face.
Elsewhere on the album the acoustic-driven ‘Knocked Out’ has a subtle folk influence, ‘Hunters and the Wolves’ is a bold and dramatic moment that slowly builds as its progresses, and ‘Safe to Believe’ 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 album’s highlight, for me at least, is the piano ballad ‘I’m Not Ready’. Goodrem is at her finest when she’s accompanied by piano and the other instrumentation is pared back. The song is an emotional moment that sends shivers down the spine, and it’s a reminder that she’s one of the world’s finest artists.
The album closes with the rousing ‘When My Stars Come Out’, featuring a stellar vocal from Goodrem, and the atmospheric beat-laden ‘Control’. The two songs combined provide a strong finish to an album that is very enjoyable if not right up there with Goodrem’s finest output.
‘Child of the Universe’ isn’t my favourite album in Goodrem’s catalogue but it certainly has its moments. Overall it’s a strong record but it doesn’t quite reach the heights of her first two albums. That being said, it’s far better and more cohesive than many other artists manage, it’s 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 singer’s fans and it’s 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 – 1. Child of the Universe 2. Touch 3. Wish You Were Here Side B – 1. Knocked Out 2. Sitting On Top of the World 3. I’m Not Ready 4. Hunters and the Wolves Side C – 1. Dancing With a Broken Heart (Album Version) 2. Hypnotized 3. Safe to Believe 4. The Speed of Life Side D – 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 ‘Child of the Universe’ now
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