Blank Project

I was there, and was cognizant enough, in early 1989, when "Buffalo Stance" became a smash hit, to remember how Cherry burst onto the scene and was different from her contemporaries. She seemed to blend electronic dance music with hip hop, which, in early 1989, had not really been explored yet. That summer, I got a job at a music store, Soundwarehouse, and I was able to listen to all of "Raw Like Sushi" many times there. I bought it. Flash forward to 1992 and Cherry's sophomore album, "Homebrew". I bought it at the time and felt it was seriously overlooked by the public, and easily her finest work. Then, in 1996, she released her third album, "Man", and as I recall, it was only released outside of the U.S., so I only came upon it as an expensive import, but I bought it. Not as good as her first two. Then she disappeared, literally, off the face of the earth. I wondered what had happened. Then the internet began to catch fire, and I was able to look her up and find out that she was doing many collaborative things with other musicians, but nothing I could obtain and listen to, and, well, nothing that sounded interesting enough to seek out.I know she did two albums with CirKus and one album with The Thing, but "Blank Project" is her first proper solo album since "Man". I was wondering if "Blank Project" would sound like the old Neneh Cherry or if it would be more like CirKus or "The Cherry Thing". I'd say it's a blend of all three, forging a new sound for Cherry. It's not exactly like any of her previous works, but also not radically different either. I am happy that she decided to do another solo album, and that she wisely kept it concise with ten songs. But, not all of the songs work, and I found myself a little disinterested with "Across The Water", "Cynical" and "422" mainly. I think the best tracks are "Blank Project", and particularly "Naked", "Weightless", "Out Of The Black" and "Everything". I liked "Spit Three Times" and "Dossier" too, but to a lesser extent. "Blank Project" is an album that grew on me with repeated listening. It's not Cherry's best or worst work. I am hoping that she continues to make solo albums, and more frequently now.As always, my mind is constantly thinking of what someone like Cherry could do that would be interesting, and I think in the future if she did an entire album with Eagle Eye Cherry that would be interesting--like the way Neil and Tim Finn have collaborated over the years. I think Cherry could do some real interesting work with Skrillex, Avicii and Swedish House Mafia. Nicki Minaj, Rihanna or Kelis could also be interesting choices. Heck, what about Trent Reznor, The Roots, Gorillaz, Missy Elliot. Just a few thoughts for another album.As it stands, "Blank Project" is a welcome return, and maybe, over time, I will come to enjoy it as much, or more than her earlier work, but I can't help it, I really like her earlier work a bit more than what she has been doing lately. Here's how "Blank Project" compares with Cherry's other works:1989 Raw Like Sushi: Four Stars1992 Homebrew: Five Stars1996 Man: Three and a Half Stars2006 Laylow (with CirKus): [Don't have it, haven't heard it]2009 Medicine (with CirKus): Three Stars2012 The Cherry Thing (with The Thing): Three Stars2014 Blank Project: Three and a Half Stars

Now 54, Neneh Cherry has had a long and varied career, all the while listening to her muse and dictating when she would shift attention from career to family and back again (she proudly states on her duet with Robyn that “I’m complete when all my kids are happy”) -a remarkable woman and artist with an oeuvre that seems to be just now reaching its creative zenith. For “Blank Project” she enlists the brother duo Rocketnumbernine for instrumental backing while Four Tet’s Kiernan Hebden applies his studio wizardry. While Hebden’s stamp is felt throughout (“Cynical” in particular sounds like Cherry singing over the top of a Four Tet track, not that that’s a bad thing), its Cherry’s project all the way as she co-writes all the tracks and attaches her trademark half-sung/half-rapped style all the while maintaining that cool, semi-detached persona that still has an edgy street-wise dark side as well. Cherry’s always played to her strengths, one of which is resolve and resiliency, a move that serves the material well. There’s a pervading sense of a woman that keeps her cards close to the vest, emoting only what she thinks you should see, just long enough to duck away again. Cherry conveys strength, vulnerability, autonomy, dependence and paranoia in a fascinating, vacillating manner while landing on her feet every time. “Spit Three Times” sees Cherry trying to define the terms of a dysfunctional relationship as she flips between “I’m addicted to you” to “you’re addicted to me.“ In the end she succumbs to her weakness (though you sense she’ll be alright) all the while the Page brothers and Hebden build a lazy trip-hop framework for Cherry to build upon. The sparseness of musical embellishment is a perfect musical foil for the mid-tempo songs. Cherry’s career arc is a thing of wonder, and this is her finest work yet.

I understand it was recording in a rushed five-day process (intentionally) which comes across in the sound as more raw, almost sound improvised and like a great studio jam session. I don't say that to detract from it. If anything, this brought out something primal in the singer as her voice is stunning throughout the tracks. I was always a fan of hers back in the day when "Raw like Sushi" came out in 1989 (wow that added some gray hairs just typing that) with hits like "Buffalo Stance" and "Kisses on the Wind." I must admit I lost track of her over the years other than occasionally pulling out the cassette tape (remember those) or seeing her referenced on a 80s revisit. She's in the news and caught my eye in a review of her new work. I was skimming it and saw enough comments by the writer to know - I had to have it and bought it right then and there. I'm loving it and it has been added to my personal soundtrack for writing. It may not be for everyone, but if you're tired of the same stuff incessantly playing on the radio and want something at once unique and new but feeling timeless and familiar - buy this one now!

This artist never disappoints. It's too bad she's not better known in the US; she deserves to be! Neneh is such a fine musician and so aware of her musical environment, her history, and her influences that she can move with effortless grace among styles and niches; techno, hip-hop, soul, first-rate R&B, dance-pop, and straight-up (!) indie rock are just a few of the threads you'll find on this album. Her sovereign way of mixing it all up, however, is all her own, and she does it in such an interesting, creative, and exciting way that it makes this listener, at any rate, curious and hungry for more. Tip: I appreciate her artistry even more when I listen to her music with a good pair of headphones, i.e. not earbuds. But however you listen to this album, you'll want to hear it over and over. Go Neneh! Go girl!

Free form feel to the vocals ,a good balance from the producer.

;)

She is just getting better and better.

fab delivery, great product.

Great album and a very unexpected pleasant surprise. Neneh Cherry has produced a funky, cool, spikey pop classic that does not compromise to commerciality but is still full of enough hooks to draw you in. I found it fresh and vital from the first listen, with the percussion in particular being superbly produced and propelling the whole thing forward. The instrumentation is minimalist, but the album is all the better for it, allowing the drum grooves and Ms Cherry's vocals to shine. This will be one of the best of the year, no question.