Review Summary: The Passion and Pain of Falling In Love
Helen 'Sade' Folasade Adu, as far as pop singers go, is an artist whose work seems to have transcended the boundaries of time more than some would have likely imagined back in the mid-1980s. At the time "Diamond Life" was making some serious rounds in the United Kingdom, initially thanks to the success of the single "Your Love Is King" and the eventual worldwide dominance of "Smooth Operator." Sade and her group were extremely intelligent on capitalizing on their appeal forgoing a larger initial advance from their label in favour of higher royalties which paid off immensely. This newfound gain in 'capital' allowed Sade to co-produce their follow-up record and, with the self-funded approach, keep strong creative control of their music without interference from Epic Records and, then owners, Columbia Records. This control resulted in what I believe to be Sade's magnum opus: Promise.
Inspired by Sade's uncle, who at the time of writing and recording was facing a battle with cancer, the band crafted easily the best top-to-bottom of their career thanks to a helping hand from the inclusion of more electronic production tools, such as a drum sampler, and some inexpensive "hi-fi-ish" 80 pound sterling per piece AR18 monitors to aid with recording, which was largely done off-the-floor. For a record made in this way, it sounds meticulous and adds so much texture and tightness to the writing.
"Is It A Crime?" is a ridiculously incredible opener, maybe one of the best opening tracks of any album released in the 1980s, and takes the group's style into something more soft contrasted by the question posed by Sade whether loving someone who shows shallow affection is right. The break into the chorus from pounding drums into the synth is so smooth I almost feel like I'm sliding across the floor listening to it. "The Sweetest Taboo" was the only single released prior to the record's launch date and shows some great slappy guitar lines contrasted by tinny percussion and room-y bass as Sade demands intense affection in exchange for intense devotion. This wide-ranging mix of warm synth and sax performances, breaks and intense drums stretch across the length of this record and never feel tired or aimless. "Fear" and "Maureen" are probably the 'weakest' tracks on the record and both of those are bangers in two very different ways. "Fear" is an amazingly harrowing ballad while "Maureen," written about Sade's friend who had passed away and the fond memories she shared with her, is a bouncy and optimistic end to the record that keeps some pain while showing the passion that comes along with loving someone. In terms of the album's peak, for me it has to be "Mr. Wrong" which has one of the most disgustingly addictive bass leads I've ever heard. I can probably listen to that song forever and its the epitome of how clever and progressive Sade get with their brand of pop music.
Promise is a record that, while a bit forgotten among the more regarded Diamond Life and Love Deluxe, shows how some artists can sometimes peak with their 2nd record if they have the talent and the passion to create something unique and mesmerizing that transcends the time it was written in. If you haven't listened to this record yet, do it right now. You won't be disappointed.
