The Id

Some artists are lucky enough to become so famous that they don’t need a surname: Bob, Lou, Iggy, Emmylou, Bono. It may appear strange to some people that after just one album, On How Life Is, Macy has joined that league of superstars, but in a world where style has replaced soul as the stuff of most music, Macy’s emotive (sub)stance stands out like white gold among the flashy, trashy boobtube brigade.

Her sophomore effort, The Id, will do little to reduce her reputation and much to enhance it. Produced by Rick Rubin, it features guest appearances from a plethora of stars, including The Roots’ Ahmir Thompson, Angie Stone and Mos Def. Doubtless, you’ve already heard the wonderful single, ‘Sweet Baby’, where Macy is joined by that other chanteuse speciale, Erykah Badu.

Macy knows where she’s come from and she is unafraid to laugh at herself, the lyrics of the ultra-groovy ‘Psychopath’ sharing a joke with her biggest hit to date, ‘I Try’. Her wordplay throughout displays the work of a songwriter who is not content to trot out the usual clichés and lazy lines. Nor is she happy in the role of the sweet, submissive girlfriend, her odes of the heart coming with titles like ‘Give Me All Your Lovin’ Or I Will Kill You’.

‘Sexual Revolution’ starts like another string-laden, soul singalong before mutating in a heartbeat into an old-skool disco floorfiller, which includes the funkiest violin players I have ever laid ears on. In fact, the musicianship throughout is flawless, adding swathes of colour to Macy’s inimitable vocal delivery, a totally unique beast, seemingly equal parts Nina Simone and Marge Simpson.

Macy is totally comfortable with her sexuality and isn’t afraid to let her man know when she wants roses ‘n’ chocolates (‘Freak Like Me’) and when she wants love of a far more physical kind, sometimes just for one night (‘Harry’). Even when things don’t work out (‘Don’t Come Around’), she is strong enough to deal with the breakup without the usual platitudes: “I don’t wanna be one of your friends, if we must break up then that’s where it ends”. Try that on for girl power.

As she sings on ‘Freak Like Me’, “Sorry that I’m late, I’ve been searching for something great”. Sounds like she found it.