With Robbie still out of action, and the charts being deluged by a wave of talented ladies, one thing we're really missing is a great male singer. James Morrison and Paulo Nutini might have had successes with their debut albums, but as their popularity falters Daniel Merriweather is ready to step in bringing his Aussie charm to our shores.
Originally introduced to us as the vocalist on Mark Ronson's cover of Smiths classic 'Stop Me If You Think You've Heard This One Before', Daniel teams up again with the ubiquitous Ronson for the whole of his debut album 'Love and War'. Perfectly designed for a long, hot summer, it's a combination of the kind of classic old school soul we'd expect from anything Ronson lays his magical fingers on and contemporary blues featuring a variety of modern day stars such as Wale.
While debut single 'Change' might have wooed us all with it's hypnotic piano riff, even more popular follow-up 'Red' is where Merriweather bares his soul telling of a heartbreak, with vocals that drip with anguish. With his impassioned pleas, it's the perfect break-up song, if such a thing can exist, that belies his 26 years.
Heartbreak is a key theme here. Although 'Cigarettes' might sound jaunty on first listen, it's all about missing the smell of his lady on his clothes. Similarly the blisteringly brilliant 'Water And A Flame', featuring fellow husky voiced Ronson alumni Adele, is a duet basted in pain with tales of empty houses, busy dial tones and the long, sad ache of desertion.
Perhaps then, not the happiest of albums, but if you're missing a loved one, an absolutely essential listen.
Originally written for Orange Music
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