Liam Bailey
Definitely NOW
Flying Buddha/Sony Music
Liam Bailey’s smoky rasp of a voice would enhance any setting. On this sneakily addictive debut, the UK singer skillfully mixes slick modern pop, old-school soul, torch ballads, and a dash of reggae, creating a familiar yet fresh brew reminiscent of the great Amy Winehouse, an early champion of his. Where some young vocalists tend to emote excessively in an attempt to show off their skills, Bailey makes a virtue of understatement. He’s thoroughly engaging on uptempo numbers like “Villain” and “Fool Boy,” but especially effective on slower late-night tunes such as “Autumn Leaves” (not the pop standard) and “So, Down Cold.” Make it mellow, Liam.
Also read: Bailey spoke to photographer Jacob Blickenstaff about making the album and his split with Jimi Hendrix’s old label, Polydor.
