Music review: Joss Stone – ëƵNever Forget My LoveëƵ
After the emotional high of ValentineëƵs Day slowly fades into normal routine, Joss Stone keeps affairs of the heart very real on her latest release.
Collaborating once again with Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics, ëƵNever Forget My LoveëƵ details a roller coaster ride of feelings experienced when love departs just as quickly as it arrives.
The 34-year-old British soul singer-songwriter feels right at home addressing the fragile subject matter on the 10 impassioned arrangements that possess a retro Burt Bacharach and Dionne Warwick vibe.
ëƵBreaking Each OtherëƵs HeartsëƵ is the marvelous opener with soothing strings introducing StoneëƵs elegant vocals making a declaration of disappointment in a failing relationship by announcing, ëƵAll the mistakes IëƵve made/I wish they would all go away/ItëƵs as if they/Were tailor-made for meëƵ
Stone finds her stirring soul groove on the title track. The song serves as a powerful anthem focused on that one defining moment when both partners realize itëƵs better to go separate ways with Stone offering a final farewell by announcing, ëƵNever forget my love/IëƵll never forget you/Even though sometimes I want to.ëƵ
While much of the albumëƵs material reminisces about past love and moving on, Stone still offers up a few moments of encouragement and hope.
ëƵOh to Be Loved by YouëƵ is a light and bouncy number that exudes moments of pure joy as Stone sings the praises of discovering a relationship that secures, strengthens and satisfies when sweetly proclaiming, ëƵSince the moment I could see that you fell in love with me/All my troubles, they left me, they walked right out the door.ëƵ
ëƵWe stick together/Through thick and thin/Whatever kind of sadness we find ourselves in,ëƵ sings Stone on ëƵYouëƵre My Girl.ëƵ The heartfelt number carries a reassuring message of having a good friend by your side without judgement or question, only love and trust.
ëƵWhen YouëƵre in LoveëƵ brings the set to an uplifting conclusion with Stone declaring,
ëƵWhen youëƵre in love/The whole world knows it/All that youëƵll see/Is colors shimmering, butterflies and bees.ëƵ ItëƵs a charming promise that love eventually finds its way home.
With ëƵNever Forget My LoveëƵ quickly shaping up to be her signature piece of work, thereëƵs certainly little chance that anyone will soon forget StoneëƵs dazzling performance.

