The Constant-I Blame Coco


I Blame Coco
The Constant
Island Records

The constant is the debut album by up-and-coming artist, I Blame Coco.  She is better known as Coco Sumner, and even better known as the daughter of Sting and Trudie Styler.  There is a large amount of hype surrounding Coco, mainly because of her famous family, but also because she signed a multi-Album deal with Island Records at the age of just 17.  Furthermore, she has recently supported La Roux on their 2010 UK-wide Tour.  Oh and she used to be a Burberry Model.  So finally, at the age of 20, Coco has released her much awaited debut, The Constant.

Selfmachine kicks off the album, with its mix of electronic tones and piano riffs.  The lyrics are intriguing and unusual, but in a good way.  Coco’s husky vocals compliment the uplifting backing synths, getting the album off to a good start.  It contrasts beautifully with In Spirit Golden which has Coco stretching her voice to reach some long extended notes.  Quicker is one of the best songs on the album, with its simple but clever lyrics telling about the “frustration of time”. Described by Coco as a “dance track with house piano” it has an easily memorable and upbeat chorus.  

One thing I Blame Coco does well is to mix dark or saddening lyrics with upbeat and uplifting rhythms and synths.  This is shown in a number of songs, including Turn Your Back On Love and PlayWrite Fate, both having an enjoyable and fun sound.  However, there are a few melancholic songs, such as the soulful and heartfelt Summer Rain. Coco also manages to avoid the usual clichés of some modern music, creating some interesting vocal delights.

No Smile was written by a 15-year-old Coco, and it has more of a reggae feel to it, even though it still contains dark and mysterious lyrics. Caesar was the first single released by Coco, which also features the vocals of Swedish Singer Robyn. It is a much darker track, with Coco spouting sinister and moody lyrics.  Therefore, it’s Robyn who makes this song, as her cool and soaring vocals compliment Coco’s husky tones in the choruses. 

Overall, I Blame Coco has created an impressive debut album.  It’s going to be tuff for her to make her mark in the music world, without someone constantly repeating who her parents are(Guilty as charged...). But this album shows how she is trying to step out from behind their shadow and to let her music do the talking, rather than family history.  It’s a promising start from a rising star...

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