Review of Neneh Cherry - Man

In 1996, after two successful albums and a string of hit singles, Cherry released her most sophisticated offering to date. Unlike the bulk of meticulously crafted 90's black pop, Neneh Cherry's third album, Man, takes chances, leaps genre boundaries without a second thought - or a first one - and boasts melodies nearly as memorable as the ones found on the Beatles' Abbey Road. And like Abbey Road, Man is the product of an effortless talent at the top of her game. While Cherry's previous efforts were more hip-hop based, this record lends itself more to the singer-songwriter movement of the early 70's. Lyrically, Cherry is in excellent form, singing socially progressive, roots-conscious lines that rival the best of her career. 

The album, which features a blistering version of the Marvin Gaye classic "Trouble Man" and the hit single "7 Seconds," is an eclectic mix of raw funk, pop-rock, and R & B. The album's lead track is the achingly beautiful "Woman." This song, set to a ballad-like string arrangement, tackles the problem of growing up in our modern world with increasingly blurred gender roles. Each successive track finds Cherry exploring new musical territory by incorporating instrumentation unheard on Cherry's previous works. English house producer, Tricky, lends his production talents to the club anthem "Together Now," while Cherry accompanies herself on piano for the album's closing track "Everything." 

Man still remains unreleased in the United States, although it is widely considered the high water mark of Cherry's career. 

Released Date: September 1996
Hut Recordings 
U.K. Import

Tracks:
Woman 
Feel It
Hornbeam
Trouble Man
Golden Ring
7 Seconds
Kootchi
Beastiality
Carry Me
Together Now
Everything

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