‘Not Your Muse’: The BBC Sound of 2020 and BRITS Rising Star recipient becomes the sound of 2021 and the decades to come.
The debut album from British-Jamaican soul-songstress Celeste has landed – and, despite being one of the most anticipated debuts in recent memory, it’s managed to exceed our expectations.
Ideal Woman
Ideal Woman is the ideal opener – a statement of intent. “I like to think it’s because I’m too proud / Too loud” she claims, but quietly and melodically. Celeste allows us to observe her introspection, the kind of intimacy she became known for after her BRIT Awards performance that catapulted her into the public spotlight.
Strange
Before we are able to process Ideal Woman, we go straight back to that BRIT Awards performance of Strange – perhaps her seminal work. A timeless ode to the absurdity of life and love, Strange doesn’t need bells and whistles; it’s a showcase of the voice and the lyrics, accompanied by piano and light strings. Great songwriting in its rawest form.
Tonight Tonight
Speaking to Capital Radio, Celeste said she feels most comfortable when things are downtempo and moody – but Tonight Tonight suggests otherwise. While remaining introspective, the verse melody is transfixing, the hook addictive – a future single, maybe? Hopefully?
Stop This Flame
Much like Tonight Tonight, Stop This Flame is driven by a breakbeat. With the chorus that keeps on giving, Stop This Flame could convincingly soundtrack any award ceremony or Hollywood film. God tier.
Tell Me Something I Don’t Know
Tell Me Something I Don’t Know reflects the laidback and reserved side of Celeste that we’re used to seeing in interviews. Gently and with increasing assertiveness, this song reaches a crescendo with Celeste dueling with a saxophone – what’s not to love?
Not Your Muse
Then we mellow out a bit. The title track, Not Your Muse, is a healthy serving of guitars that are distorted and drenched in reverb and delay – but not too much, of course. Like the rest of the album, the music serves to compliment the voice – never in the way, but always present.
A Kiss
If Celeste is most comfortable with being downtempo and moody, A Kiss is like home. Descending finger-picked guitars, light piano plodding along, atmospheric strings, and then a full tour of Celeste’s vocal range from top to bottom. It’s at this point it became apparent that the big crescendo was a personal motif for the soul specialist.
Beloved
Believe me, Beloved is rife with 1940s black soul nostalgia, and just as we thought Celeste had shown all she has to offer vocally – she found more. Celeste is accompanied by choppy guitars and clumsy tuned percussion but always feels as if she is in control of the tempo. There are almost beach vibes as well, but that might just be the steel pans and lockdown blues.
Love is Back
We spoke about Celeste’s gentle shyness throughout but by the time we reach single Love is Back, this is a distant memory. In her ‘Back To Black’ moment, she asks: “What’s your preference cus’ I know mine, and it’s you” with her found clarity, she highlights the healing power of love. The antidote to Strange, Love is Back is retro, groovy, and arguably her finest hour.
The Promise
The Promise is not to be confused with the 2009 Girls Aloud hit – in fact, it couldn’t be any more different. Despite being guitar-led, this song showcases electronic orchestral instruments and concludes with bird sound effects. If Love is Back is Celeste’s Back to Black, then The Promise is Some Unholy War. On-brand and fine for an album track.
A Little Love
Next up, A Little Love – you know, that song from the John Lewis Christmas advert? Rich with Jazz and charmingly childish, this song wouldn’t be out of place on a Randy Newman album. Continuing her newfound optimism, politely she asks: “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everybody gave a little love?”. And now, more than ever, she may be right. This song is the product of the introspection, and the culmination of the journey Celeste has taken us on with her debut.
Some Goodbyes Come With Hellos
Finally, the most aptly titled track on the album – Some Goodbyes Come With Hellos. Stripped back and pure, she ends with just guitar, piano, and voice. Why so apt? Well, in the lead up to this release, we knew Celeste could sing, but did she have the tunes to back it up? It turns out: she did. So, as we part ways, and wind down from ‘Not Your Muse’, we say hello to a new superstar.