…and it’s great! Great combo and she’s back with an instant classic.
10/10 according to Brian (Norman Records) on Fri 21 Feb, 2014.
"Neneh Cherry’s first solo album proper in 18 years, ‘Blank Project’ is a total blast from the word go. Ranging from the gorgeously stark ‘Across the Water’ to the intoxicating tribalisms of the title track, through to the the tough jazzy grooves of ‘Cynical’ there is not a weak track here. Many of us here at Auntie Norman reckon this is one hell of a playful, dramatic & spacious record; one that exudes the most naturalistic and intensely soulful heart. She welcomes you into a very personal and intimate head-space does Neneh C - she is after all one of our most cherished singers. It is hard to believe she’s been laying dormant for as long as this. Last years covers-heavy collaboration with Norway’s tough free-jazz collective The Thing was a cracking tease indeed yet the music style was blatantly all theirs. However, on BPs amazing centrepiece ‘Weightless’ she appears to have soaked up a soupçon of their earthy grizzled racket!
Here we have the full re-launch of a proper rare bird circling our hearts again, that beautiful high yet smoky and distinctive voice that all the old boys and girls love - her contemporary Four Tet produced tunes appear to be discreetly scarred with the brittle harshness of life but infused with such savvy passion and Mother Earth verve that it’s clearly a delightful match made in heaven. So massive kudos to Kieran Hebden for keeping his classy production tricks in a more minimal realm, allowing that lovely cheeky child-like rasp and purr of hers swagger and swoop over such a fabulously organic, sensuous and rhythmical backdrop. Her spellbinding lyrics spill with reflections on the urban and personal whilst the music is performed impeccably by Rocketnumbernine, an underrated but widely admired krauty/synth rock act affiliated with Four Tet’s Text records.
Everything is in place here, it is her time to shine again. ‘Blank Project’ is a really essential record, the first one to completely blow me away this year, one that deserves your reverence and absolute respect. I find it difficult to write much more as you get carried away so easily on each listen, words seem so insignificant and pointless. Buy on sight, I implore thee!
As far as I’m concerned this is album is as powerful and exciting as ‘Maxinquaye’ or Nicolette’s oft-overlooked ‘Let No-One Live Rent Free In Yr Head’ 18 years doesn’t seem possible, she’s clearly as relevant and thrilling as ever. x"