aaamusic | On 04, Dec 2011

You would be forgiven for overlooking Liverpool singer Rebecca Ferguson after the market has become saturated with X Factor 2011 alumni including- One Direction, Cher Lloyd and eventual winner Matt Cardle. However, of this bunch Fergusons debut album “Heaven” is the most original and unique work to come out of this bunch.
Ferguson performed lead single “Nothings Real but Love” two weeks ago giving us a taste of what was to come, and putting Rihannas vocals to shame in the meantime. Heaven is filled with Motown inspired soul tracks and Fergusons commanding vocals are really the focus of the album. Many of her peers including Matt Cardle have released the shiny manufactured pop albums that you would expect from an X Factor contestant- however Ferguson has managed to avoid this pitfall. She co-wrote all of the tracks on the album which hives “Heaven” a sound that is distinctively hers.
“Mr Bright Eyes” is a highlight in which Ferguson croons “Hey Mr Bright Eyes/ Where you been all my life? This track showcases her vocal range which goes from the tremblingly low bass notes to those soaring emotional high notes that separate Ferguson from the rest. “Shoulder to Shoulder” is a classic love ballad with beautiful backing music and one of the tracks where Ferguson sounds completely at ease, hitting the high notes with pure perfection.
“Glitter and Gold” is one of the more upbeat songs on this album and has more than a hint of R&B- there is a disco feel to this song that brings a welcome change from the slower numbers. The obvious comparison here is Adele and Duffy. Ferguson is no doubt within the same retro-soul genre that was made so popular by Amy Winehouse, but Ferguson has her own unique edge and has left her karaoke singing days behind her.

Author: Orna Lyons