Craig David is back with his fourth studio album Trust Me which was released this week in Europe. It promises lots of live instrumentation accentuated with his smooth silk vocals made from warm honey. Somebody said that Usher has the smoothest voice in R&B. Well, he's going to have to get past Craig David for that theory to hold that kind of validity. On the album, Craig worked with his main producer Martin Terefe to bring about a new mixture of sounds, which he sought after doing most of the recording under the beautiful Cuban scenery. It was hard to fall in love with the heavily David Bowie-sampled Hot Stuff, because it is so unlike Craig David and it didn't represent what Craig David the artist stands for. Once upon a time, he would NEVER have relied on a massive well-known sample for a lead single let alone a comeback single. In fact, such a transition was a major low blow. Never mind that he took a complete 360 by putting out a disco-pop record. The dance-number 6 of 1 Thing is probably the main standout on the album because it is the one track that sounds a lot like his old stuff. The very soulful Awkward is a heart-on-sleeve slow number and features a collaboration with an unknown London singer who is set to make big moves next year. The reggae-flavoured She's On Fire and the alternatively-acoustic Top of The Hill all show that Craig was willing to set a different tone with the album.
The songs most listen-able would have to be 6 of 1 Thing, Awkward, Kinda Girl For Me, She's On Fire and Don't Play With Our Love. With Trust Me you can definitely hear the emblems of the Cuban/Island traits which is pretty influent in the music. The album was just about solid to me but unfortunately, it failed to overwhelm me like his debut did. Now that was the Craig we all knew and love. Bring him back please.
Rating: 3/5
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