Adele's 25

Adele is back and after a three-year absence, the BRIT school graduate sang a tentative "Hello, it's me" on her comeback single and clocked up a million digital sales and a billion video hits in a week. Her previous album, 21, sold over 30 million copies, the only release this century to scale such dizzy heights. The ailing music industry is desperate for her to pull off the same trick again. The rest of us are just hoping for another great album full of heartfelt songs delivered with a warm, powerful voice that makes us want to sing along, punch the air and shed a tear.

This new album features a more grown up Adele. For most artists these days, growing your music means experimenting with the sound and evolving with the technological landscape of music. Nothing wrong with that, but when you're Adele, releasing a more 'grown up' record means something quite different. Nothing about '25' is over-produced; you won't find any EDM tracks or even full-scale orchestrations. Most of her songs are dominated by a single acoustic instrument and her powerful, signature voice — and after recovering from a debilitating case of haemorrhaged vocal chords, it's a pleasure to listen to a record that allows her voice to be the star and give it the room to shine as bright as a supernova.

Perhaps that's why "Hello" was chosen as the lead single for the record. Originally, "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)," a more upbeat, poppy song, reminiscent of the scorned singer found on '21' was considered as the first release. But that track, while catchy and a fun listen, doesn't truly embody Adele's intended ambition with "25". Instead, many of the songs feature Adele accompanied by a single instrument. "All I Ask," a song about holding onto a love that is at its end, features just a piano and the Brit, belting her heart out, making you feel her sorrow. Same goes for "Remedy," co-written by Ryan Tedder. With just the piano and her voice to guide the lyrics, you can really appreciate what she's singing about, as well as how beautiful it sounds when she sings. 

In "25," it feels more like the Brit is exploring the challenges of being in love, how to overcome the obstacles of staying in love, and how to walk away from it when it's over. Songs like "Love In The Dark" and "When We Were Young" highlight her unique edge and insight when singing about lost love, and "Water Under The Bridge" is a perfect ode to a dysfunctional relationship that you just can't shake free of.

The beauty of Adele's singing is how effortless it is. The depth of her notes is luxurious with the slightest of croaks in her upper range lending a twist of soul. She gives herself space, words falling neatly with music and rhythm, albeit she has the advantage of being able to stretch vowels and add syllables apparently at will. There's real joy in her vocal, even when she is grappling with private pain. She loves to sing, and the world loves to hear her.

Reviewed by Intisab Shahriyar