We have to go back 25 years to hit a time when Swedish-born (you all thought she was American, or at least British, right?) rapper Neneh Cherry had the attention of the American public. 'Buffalo Stance' was a huge hit and for good reason; it was a clear cornerstone of 'hip-house' - the late '80s UK genre merging two great musical movements of the '80s: hip-hop and house, of course.
Fortunes waned as Cherry entered the '90s pop world. Her follow up LP, 1992's Homebrew was just as well-crafted as her debut, but her pop moment had passed in America. Her third album Man fared even worse, not being released in the U.S. at all (although becoming a hit elsewhere, especially in Europe, where she was a much bigger star). In France, she had a #1 single for 17 weeks(!) in 1994. What do Americans know about pop music anyway?
Fast-forward 18 YEARS (and a few low-profile side projects) and Neneh is finally back with a proper new solo album, The Blank Project. Co-produced by Four Tet, the album is a far cry from the glossy pop of any of her previous work.
The Blank Project has a dry, demo-y quality to it, casting an indie sheen on a former rap princess. Rap, by common definitions, is almost entirely absent from this album; Neneh sings everything, for better or worse. Never what you'd consider a stellar vocalist, Cherry has a distinct brittle, limited range that is distinctly hers. Distinct. What more could you ask for in a vocalist?
Even with the attention-grabbing inclusion of a Robyn guest spot on 'Out of the Black,' the album is almost defiantly anti-pop. There is no 'Buffalo Stance' if you're are searching for former glories, part two. Even Robyn is subdued.
The Blank Project is a mood piece - somber and agitated, acoustic and electronic, but still very 'live' sounding. Can you handle this new stance?
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