Hurricane

Well the lady is back, almost 20 years since her last studio album, but is this worth the wait? Listening to the tracks that have been released teasingly I would say yes. The title track has been around for a few years but it has been given a Tricky revamp making it sound epic and relevant. The first single release, Corporate Cannibal, is a slab of moody beats with Grace speaking through the song making you shiver with anticipation. She has been receiving rave reviews recently for her live performances and she is doing a short tour next year - if you get the chance to see her live then you will see what a strong performer she is. Forget the diva attitude and stories, just listen to the music and enjoy the return of one of the most enigmatic entertainers there is.

I had forgotten about Grace until I saw her on the Jools Holland show. On the strength of that great performance I bought Hurricane and I am more than pleased. Every song is good and the production is the best. Grace is the most stylish woman on earth.

It took 19 years to have a new Grace jones album released. Was it worth it ? Oh yeah ! Concentrate 19 years of quality into 9 tracks and the result is "Hurricane". Warm, Jamaican feelings, uplifting beats, summer breeze, beaches at sunset, African forests... Just a few images that come to mind when listening to this album. Highlights: This is, Sunset sunrise and corporate cannibal. Do yourself a favour: buy this album !!!

It's so satisfying to hear this album, to see how enthusiastic Grace is about it, and see how many rave reviews there are. The album, what with sly and robbie, fits in perfectly with her three compass point studio records (warm leatherette, nightclubbing, living my life). We can now pretend bulletproof heart and inside story never happened! The production is top-notch without ever feeling over-produced, something grace was keen to show having been on both sides of the coin. The album is perfect in it's balance of jamaican dub influence and sinister classic grace overtones. However my only niggle is the last track, devil in my life, it's not catchy enough for me personally and feels slightly like a filler track tagged on the end of an otherwise perfect album. I've got my ticket for her last gig at the Roundhouse in London, and can already tell it's going to be a once-in-a-lifetime affair. Here's hoping for more great albums that don't take twenty years to see light.

I awaited this album with some trepidation - 'Bulletproof Heart' had its moments but it felt like Ms Grace was languidly nibbling at her prey and her appetite for adoring flesh was waning.
As soon as 'This Is' bounded like a muscled metalic tiger from the confines of my Missions I knew the wait had been worth it and that the ticket I'd bought for the Manchester gig in January is going to buy me a couple of hours of bliss. Yes, it harks back to the 'Nightclubbing' and 'Living My Life' era (why, incidentally, is the latter no longer available on CD?) but that was her best and she's back to her best, and then some, with this.
The album keeps up the drive relentlessly and I find it hard to stay still when it's on (very awkward walking to work with it pouring through the Bose 'on ears' and it's a real effort not to wiggle).
The production is razor sharp and is frequently remiscent of Massive Attack in its soundscape.
There was a moment when I thought she'd lost the plot when what sounded like 'I'm a man-eating sheep' followed me about the house...Thankfully, it was I who was losing the plot and was mightily relieved to hear 'I'm a man-eating machine' over some very Mezzanine-like machinery on 'Corporate Cannibal'.
I buy around five albums a week and this one is eclipsing everything else. It's hardly been off and there's not one skippable track on the whole album. A rare piece of very powerful, very dark magic. Your collection will be weak and naked without it: don't let it be the one to get sand kicked in its face...