Simply Crimson ‘Time’ album evaluation – Soul survivor continues to be a category act

He writes about his life, household and considerations on this 12-track lockdown album, using a smorgasbord of various sounds – funk, soul, blues and jazz.

Better With You – about his spouse Gabriella – is sensible, wellcrafted pop with its roots within the 60s. Just Like You, constructed on a candy funky bass groove, takes us to the 70s.

Later, Just Like You (Part 2) offers the quantity more room to breathe with a neat lead break by Japanese guitar maestro Kenji Suzuki.

Hucknall’s voice has misplaced none of its magic. It soars on the dreamy refrain of Let Your Hair Down, with Gavin Goldberg’s guitar taking us into Ernie Isley territory.

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Shades 22 is sort of hypnotically relaxed and is kind of stunning. Slapbang is a harmonica-enhanced bluesy pop foot-tapper.

There’s social remark too. Hey Mister, which has a laidback funky really feel, finds Hucknall chiding fatcats “on a gravy train in a world of acid rain”, including, “When you’re done with your complaining, do something about our system failing”.

On the jazz-tinged Too Long on the Fair, he observes, “Democracy is suffering a major shakedown? Democracy is wonderful, marvellous, but do you really care?”

He’s on lead guitar on Never Be Gone, an emotional ballad about dropping a beloved one, and telling us to “trust in the rainbows of time, she will never be gone”.

The jazzy Butterflies, for his daughter Romy, comes full with producer Andy Wright’s Wurlitzer.

The nearer, Earth In A Lonely Space, begins like folky prog, then recollects The Beatles and Bowie. The message – take a look at what you may have and make it higher – is an effective one.

There won’t be a brand new Stars on Simply Red’s thirteenth album however all the things about it radiates class.