Reviewed by Lins Honeyman

If renowned soul singer Aaron Neville's 2010 'I Know I've Been Changed' album was characterised by the late Allen Toussaint's piano playing then a red hot brass section does much the same job on his latest release. Neville's unmistakable voice - full of the trademark shimmering falsetto that is still perfectly intact despite its owner being in his mid-70s - sits perfectly over a brass-laden New Orleans feel that just oozes style and evidences the fact the Neville is still keen to offer up something stylistically different with every outing. With the help of producer Eric Krasno and kicking off with the funk-driven "Be Your Man", Neville covers a broad spectrum of topics with the nostalgic homage to his New Orleans home "Stompin' Ground" and a touching love song to his wife "Sarah Ann" sitting next to more philosophical numbers such as "All Of The Above" and "Hard To Believe". A practicing Catholic, Neville references his faith in the likes of "Heaven" and the straight-talking "Ain't Gonna Judge You" although warnings that "karma's gonna gun you down" in "Make Your Momma Cry" suggest some muddying of spiritual waters and a confusion as to how God's grace and forgiveness works. "Fragile World" - a lament in which Neville jaws New Orleans-style to the back drop of a rolling Louisiana groove - is a fitting close to yet another exemplary release.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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