When it was announced a few weeks ago that Sade and her eponymous band would be returning from a seven year hiatus to record the soundtrack for the Disney film ‘A Wrinkle in Time’, some of us feared that the queen of smooth’s untainted legacy would be butchered by a rushed, corporately-led grab at a chart hit. 'Flower of the Universe', however, is a gift of a track in which Sade’s style is uncompromisingly familiar, strongly resembling much of the music on her last album, Soldiers of Love. The combination of Sade’s signature haunting, alluring voice, and the production magic of No I.D- a don of the game who has worked with the likes of Common, Alicia Keys and Jay Z- deliver us a rich, velvety dose of deliciousness.
It is fitting that such an iconic woman should soundtrack this film, which has been adapted by Ava Duvernay from the critically acclaimed children’s book of the same name. The book was written in 1962, and in its lifetime has been banned several times in the USA for containing anti-Christian messages, due to its focus, essentially, on magic and the possibility of parallel universes. Strikingly ahead of its time, the book has been graced with an adaptation with diverse and imaginative casting, and a stunning soundtrack. Hopefully the film will do all of this justice.
More than 30 years after her first album, Sade remains one of the most universally loved and admired singers. Her first album, Diamond Life was released in 1984 and was an instant classic that is still praised for its deliciously jazzy, soul filled sounds that include tracks such as 'Smooth Operator' and 'Hang On to you Love'. 'Flower of the Universe' is proof of her timelessness as an artist. Opened by a harmonised, lyric-less chorus set over a rocking acoustic guitar melody, the song is a lilting, lullaby-like ode to wonder and imagination. The track is woven through with dreamlike harmonies, and, in typical Sade style, nothing is too lyrically complex, but the beauty and nakedness of her voice elevates the words from potentially sugary to genuinely beautiful. The periodic return to the simple, wordless chorus roots the song down, preventing it from being over the top and creating a tranquil, deep and moving track. Have a listen and let the dreamy tones wrap you in warmth and transport you back to your childhood.
Words: Dora