Released: 07/09/09

100% is the sixth studio album from Beverley Knight, released through Hurricane Records. Let’s get one thing straightened out from the start - this is very much a pop album, not a soul album or even a soul/pop album. Beverley Knight sings through thirteen tracks that sound like they didn’t quite make the grade to feature on Leona Lewis’ album. It shouldn’t be like that with Beverley being the established artist.

The first single from the album is Beautiful Night. The synthesizers and hooks are cheesier than cheddar and, dare I say, it is encroaching on Eurovision territory. In Your Shoes and Every Step are the catchiest tracks by a country mile, possibly because they are nearly musically and lyrically identical. Both are funky, uplifting numbers about getting up and grabbing life with both hands.

The title track, 100%, is as close to soul as the album gets and when listening to it, it’s easy to see why Beverley is a triple MOBO award winning artist. Listening to the sultry and smooth 100%, it’s clear that Beverley Knight should concentrate on her soul music, not pop. Pop might sell more units in the long run but stick to what you’re good at Bev and what people love you for – soul!

The track Soul Survivor features Chaka Khan and it’s an empty endorsement if I’ve ever heard one. Let’s draw a comparison; if Eric Clapton decided to lend a few riffs to James Morrison, it wouldn’t suddenly make James a guitar legend. Nor will featuring Chaka on this track make it an instant classic. Do your ears a favour when this track comes on and press ‘skip’.

It’s hard to imagine where (aside from radio airplay) most of the tracks from this album could be played. They’re too middle of the road and lack the certain je ne sais quoi that gives music that special something. I can honestly say that my 82 year old grandmother is more up-to-date than this album. 100% sounds like it’s travelled in a time machine from 1997, where you could still buy albums on tape from Woolies and Eternal were riding high in the charts.

www.beverleyknight.com

Fay Harley