19 was an extraordinary debut, 21 was a heart-wrenching successor, and 25 is like coming up for air. English singer/songwriter Adele Adkins didn’t need to ask to re-enter our lives, but as she exhaled, “Hello. It’s me,” on the album’s lead single, it was as though she was at our front door waiting to be invited inside. In an instant, the entire world ushered her in for tea and bikkies, and 25 has now become the best-selling album of 2015.
Dusting off the furniture and putting the kettle on, Adele settles in for what can only be described as a truly remarkable record. As Hello begins, you can hear a sigh of relief coming from loyal fans, immediately recognising the singer’s familiar sound. Replete with nostalgia and heartbreak, the opening track isn’t aimed at an ex-lover, but instead to anyone she’s left behind over the years – and with an emotive ballad such as this, they’re sure to forgive her.
Continuing the record’s running theme, Send My Love sees the now 27-year-old coming to terms with growing older and moving on from the past, realising “we ain’t kids no more”. Acoustic guitars and funky rhythms bring a sense of acceptance, something completely absent from 25’s two predecessors. Not afraid to reveal her weaknesses, the contradictory I Miss You showcases Adele’s truly authentic nature, and it’s swiftly followed by the tantalising devotion of Remedy.
Stepping back in time, Water Under The Bridge transports you to an era of layered backing vocals, united under the refrain, “If you’re gonna let me down, let me down gently”. Disguising itself as a filler track due to a sombre beginning, River Lea boasts one of the most memorable choruses on the entire album. Love In The Dark and All I Ask are also a satisfying listen, but fall short in regards to Adele’s incredibly high standards.
Redeeming herself, Million Years Ago and When We Were Young are two of the record’s obvious triumphs. Then comes Sweet Devotion, an open letter to her partner and son, which closes the record with an optimistic outlook.
BY PHOEBE ROBERTSON
