Music Review

22 November 2008 06:32 BST

Leon Jean Marie: Bent Out of Shape

Island Records, out now.

In a nutshell...

Prince and Britpop stylishly re-imagined.

What's it all about?

The debut album from 25-year-old singer-songwriter Leon Jean Marie contains 13 catchy, sensual and haunting songs that fuse 80s Prince to indie music with a sublime 60s Britpop undercurrent.

Who's it by

Eastender Marie started out as a producer who has experienced various hardships including sleeping rough and depression before getting his life back on track to deliver a stunning debut album that wears its diverse influences openly.

Marie worked with Mark Ronson on the track Bed Of Nails and recently supported Estelle on her UK dates.

As an example...

"Crawling in my mind/I don't wanna concentrate/I'm going down to look for her." – Gotta Have It

Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys

There's so much good stuff on this album from a brilliant new talent that should pique Grammy curiosity, which may translate into a gong. Fingers crossed!

What the others say

"As a songwriter, Marie has no special grace or insight, but he has the kind of amenable delivery that transforms bland into benign, and a melodic gift that more than compensates for lyrical shortcomings. His most accomplished piece is Fair, which uses the dodgems as a metaphor for life, Marie advising us not to over-react to insignificant collisions, but to get over them and move on swiftly." – Independent

"Leon Jean Marie didn't do so well in the new year tips lists, which is odd because we think he's quite likely to find himself a big audience in 2008, having worked with a number of people (including Mark Ronson) on an impressive debut album.

East End Blues is not his new single but almost certainly will be a single in the not too distant future, because it is literally quite good. It's both safe enough for Radio 2 and edgy enough to make people think about rolling down their windows when they are listening to it in their cars.

This is just one song from a very diverse but very pop album and we've been listening to the LP a lot recently. There is a certain ska element to East End Blues but do not let that put you off." - Popjustice

So is it any good?

Simply, yes.

Bent Out Of Shape is an assured and enticing debut from an artist whose background as a producer means he knows how to effortlessly craft a top-notch tune with the requisite tonal atmospheres.

And Leon Jean Marie draws upon this ability as well as his fondness for Prince among lots of musical influences to unveil an album superbly suited to rainy summer days.

There's an abundance of riches here from the emotive East End Blues and the perverse attraction of Gotta Have It through to the Mark Ronson-produced Bed Of Nails and the groove of Glow.

However, Marie really cuts loose with the trip-hop/funk of Scratch and the lush piano overlaid with dark dance beats of You Must Know.

Bent Out Of Shape is bump 'n' grind and chill-out music for the digital generation.

To read more about Leon Jean Marie in the Who's Next section of inthenews.co.uk, click here

9 /10

Lee Davis