Album Review by Mark Bayross
SOMEWHERE DEEP IN THE NIGHT is the new album from Swing Out Sister, the duo of Mancunian chanteuse Corinne Drewery and keyboard player Andy Connell. Born out of legendary Factory band A Certain Ratio, Swing Out Sister’s career got off to a flying start the worldwide hit BREAKOUT, a single from their 1987 debut album, then seemed to disappear off the radar completely.
Amazingly, this is their ninth album, and it sees them reunited with long-term producer and co-songwriter Paul O’Duffy. The band are still occupying the same – dare I say it – easy listening territory as they always have, but with bands like Zero 7 and Groove Armada storming the Charts, they will probably find themselves strangely fashionable again.
Certainly fans of Burt Bacharach and John Barry will find plenty to enjoy here, from the sweeping strings of NOW LISTEN TO ME to the decidedly Bond-esque NON E VERO MA CI CREDO. Elsewhere, the sound expands to take in shuffling Latin beats on the title track and on the instrumental SUSPENDED IN TIME, smoky sax on THE VITAL THING and staccato strings on TOUCH ME NOW.
Corinne’s voice is as soaring as ever, while Andy delivers a soundscape that’s pure widescreen class – jazzy bass, colourful strings and mellow brass. The perfect soundtrack to a day of open-top cruising along the Riveria.
