LADY SOVEREIGN – JIGSAW (a J!-ENT World Groove Album Review)

ARTIST: LADY SOVEREIGN

ALBUM:  JIGSAW

LABEL: Midget Records

DURATION:  35:39

Release Date: April 7, 2009

1. Let’s Be Mates
2. So Human
3. Jigsaw
4. Bang Bang
5. I Got You Dancing
6. Pennies
7. Guitar
8. Student Union
9. Food Play
10. I Got the Goods

The sophomore album from English rapper Louise Amanda Harman a.k.a. Lady Sovereign. Lady Sovereign is a grime artist (urban music from East London combining UK garage, dance hall and hip hop) who has pushed to show that she’s a legit music artist and an example of an artist where hard work, persistence and using the Internet in getting one’s name out.

Known for her furious delivery with her rap lyrics and typically sporting a masculine clothing and her share of controversies, Lady Sovereign is free from corporate label wrangling by leaving Island and now doing music her way and her own style by her calling the shots through Midget Records (part of EMI).

Since the release of her 2006 album “Public Warning”, the next two years would feature the artist going through a variety of challenges in her personal life but also her enjoying electronic music and that newfound passion shows in her latest album “JIGSAW”. An album that features tracks written by her but also multiple collaborations with several artists and producers.

The first track “Lets Be Mates” features a pretty cool monosynth-pop track about wanting to hook up. Overall, an alright opening track but its when you get to the second track that features an interpolation of “Close to Me” originally performed by The Cure that things pickup. Overall, a pretty awesome track featuring a cool, hip hop track that utilizes Robert Smith’s track quite well. An addicting track overall!

The third track “Jigsaw” features a song about missing an old love and being pissed that things are not the same as before. The track is produced by Dr. Luke and overall, a deep track with cool rhymes and cool music and great use of violin throughout the track.

The fourth track “BANG BANG” features a bass-driven, almost late 80′s hip hop nostalgic style of track.

The fifth track features the only single from the album titled “I got you dancing…” featuring an upbeat, dance track. Overall, a slick dance track with addictive beats.

The sixth track “Pennies” is a synth pop track and perhaps this is Lady Sovereign’s middle finger going up to her former record company. About how money was made from her, as Sov ask’s “How many pennies have you gotten from me…”.

The seventh track “Guitar” features cool grooves, cool beats with an underlying violin playing in the background. Overall, a deep song about getting used to the fame.

The eight track “Student Union” utilizes early 80′s synth-style music and a song possibly about the people she couldn’t stand at the school and being a high school dropout.

The ninth track “Food Play” is an all out sexual and sensual track. A slow-tempo track that was OK but just didn’t dig the high vocoder vocals used during the song.

The final track features Lady Sovereign writing about the fame and people adding her on Facebook and addressing those who want her for rhymes and those who are Cling-ons. Another synth, experimental musical track.

The CD insert booklet features the lyrics to the tracks on the album.

Lady Sovereign’s latest album “JIGSAW” is definitely an album that showcases the 23-year-old’s delivery of rhymes. In fact, this time around, things are much more brighter in terms of the music compared to the dark, angsty lyrics and music from her last album.

Some tracks such as “Bang Bang”, “Jigsaw” and “Guitar” are enjoyable tracks and “So Human” is quite addicting to listen to, even if it uses The Cure’s “Close To Me” as its musical backdrop. But the album “JIGSAW” is a mix bag. “Student Union”, “Food Play” and “I Got the Goods” were OK tracks but doesn’t end the album on a sensational note especially since the album starts off with some awesome, upbeat, well-crafted tracks.

But in the end, I think that Sov’s independence and having her own freedom on her own imprint label gives her more creative freedom and I’d love to see more collaborative work and really come up with some crazy, creative music but keeping up her furious delivery of competent lyrics as she continually has demonstrated.

Overall, “JIGSAW” is a pretty cool, upbeat album that definitely is more on the creative experimental side as you get a good balance of electro, synth pop, hip hop and old school grooves and beats.  You’ll definitely find a good number awesome tracks on this album worth checking out!