WILL YOUNG
Light It Up (BMG)
The new album from multi-talented songwriter, actor, activist and animal rights supporter Will Young is heading towards a summer hit. Light It Up’s blend of pop classic and new, dance, and a certain Latin influence has already secured the title track its place on Radio 2’s playlist. A feelgood, summer-drenched lead-off, you can already hear it being thrashed about to by a tutu-clad Toyah on Strictly over the coming weeks.
Elsewhere, Feels Just Like A Win is darker and more synthpop-leaning, with Will’s soaring vocals; Midnight is a mix of styles, amounting to a departure from the singer’s norm, though again synth and keyboard-heavy. Me Without You is more guitar-based and Latin-inspired, with floaty lyrics, and a cover of I Won’t Let You Down Again could have perhaps been excised from the tracklisting – but otherwise, Light It Up lives up to its own billing and indeed feels like a win.
The varied sound arrives under the guidance of Groove Armada’s Andy Cato. There’s a smidge of Pet Shop Boys, a bit of ELO and even a tinkling of Roxy Music, all of which gives this album edge and relevance to a degree not necessarily expected from a Will Young album, which in fairness he carries off.
words ANTONIA LEVAY
