Emma Bunton - Free Me (CD 2004)

This is a really good CD from Emma. She has a pleasant, lightweight voice that is perfectly matched to pleasant, lightweight songs.

The predominant feel is 60's pop-latin with a big debt to Astrud Gilberto (including an acceptable uptempo cover of Gilberto's 'Crickets sing for Anamaria') and a touch of 'lounge'.

The whole album is very well produced with a contemporary update of the 60's sound - I think by jazz-pop outfit Zero 7.

Standout track is certainly the single 'Maybe' along with the title track 'Free Me' and 'Amazing' which has a great latin groove and features a duet with Luis Fonsi (who I know nothing about).

Couple of the other tracks are weak but not unpleasant - personally I prefer the retro tracks to the more contemporary songs.

So...a bit kitch and fans (like me) of 60's latin-pop will either like it (like me) or hate it but well worth a budget purchase although a 'Very Best of Astrud Gilberto' should take priority if you don't have it.

Emma shows great legs in the pics by the way! (if you're interested)

easy less... groove 60s sounds, the follow up to gril like me albam, this is cool...... 4most ages....

Muy a lo francesa...estan muy bien la mayoria de las canciones. Me decidi a comprarlo porque me gusta todo lo relacionado con las Spice jeje.

The title track from Free Me is so evocative of James Bond it should come with a free Martini. Emma Bunton tries to reinvent herself as a modern Sandie Shaw. Following the title track is a Sergio Mendes style piece of Brazilian pop. To continue the club-tropicana feel there's even a cover of Brazilian Marcos Valle's irresistible "Os Grilos" ("The Crickets"), here known as "Crickets Sing for AnaMaria".
Will her fans get this? Does she still have fans? Who is Emma Bunton? Like all the other Spice Girls she's searching for a musical identity after losing a collective wholeness. Note the change from Emma Bunton to Emma, another way to separate past from present. But having Brazilian musical plastic surgery doesn't cover up the fact that underneath the alterations is a woman undergoing the painful process of finding artistic individuality. She best achieves this on the ironically titled "No Sign of Life". This is by no means a bad album. "Breathing", after a few plays, sounds like a possible No. 1. "Who the Hell Are You?" could easily power a car advert. It doesn't say a lot but sounds fun, which is about right for this album.

This album is brilliant! The second album to be released by Spice Girl Emma Bunton. I have always liked the Spice Girls and there solo careers and heard all the solo albums and i have to say, this is one of the best! With released singles Free Me, Maybe, I'll Be There and Emma's cover version of a classic Crickets Sing For AnaMaria. This is a must for a Spice Girls Fan!