Alison Moyet: The Minutes

Along with Annie Lennox and Sade, Alison Moyet defined a new breed of ’80s pop singer – confident, cool and soulful. Her Yazoo period coincided with the synth-pop boom. But it was her solo stint that catapulted the Essex girl into the stratosphere (she was Britain’s biggest-selling female artist for several years running).

Since then she has tried varied production styles, always remaining a live draw. Here she returns to the sound that made her a star with a strong, well-produced collection. The Bowie-esque ‘Changeling’ is all angular guitars and metronomic syncopation, ‘Apple Kisses’ comes across like a Bond theme and ‘Right As Rain’ is as good a tune as she’s recorded. The slightly unsettling ‘Remind Yourself‘ offers Massive Attack trip-hop textures with Dusty Springfield melodrama while the soaring ballad ‘A Place To Stay’ recalls her huge hit, ‘All Cried Out’. On this occasion, her aim is true.

Key Track: ‘A Place To Stay’

Set to be released on 6 May.