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An abiding love of classic soul, twangy rock, and R&B has always been at the core of Rick Astley's pop sound. It's an organic blend that he's been increasingly digging into since 2016's 50 and one which underpins all of 2023's Are We There Yet? His third album to be produced out of his home studio in London, the album feels like a love letter to the earthy, blues-influenced work of artists like Bill Withers and Otis Redding. Central to the album is "Dippin' My Feet," an infectious, country- and gospel-tinged rocker that nicely evokes the similarly rootsy, throwback style of Oklahoma singer JD McPherson. In fact, it's easy to imagine Astley hearing the rise of roots-inspired artists like McPherson and even singers like Hozier (another possible touchstone for the sounds at play on Are We There Yet?) and finding common pop ground. Here, he takes a back-to-basics approach, framing his resonant baritone in ringing piano and organ flourishes, crisp acoustic guitars, handclaps, and warm backing vocal harmonies. While the album certainly has a lovingly crafted, analog quality, there's a raw immediacy to many of these tracks, as if they were recorded live-in-studio or captured at a passionate church service. It's an earthy vibe reflected in Astley's vocals, as on the gospel-influenced "Never Gonna Stop," where he takes on the throaty intensity of a blues singer. Other evocative sounds pop up elsewhere, as on "High Enough," a minor-key number with echoey vibraphone accents that brings to mind the yearning atmosphere of a Chris Isaak song. Similarly, "Forever and More" has the crisp, guitar-driven soulfulness of an '80s Style Council track. Certainly, all of the rootsy soulfulness Astley embraces on Are We There Yet? is far removed from the studio sophistication of his early hits. That said, it feels genuine and hard-won by age and experience. With Are We There Yet?, Astley hasn't just arrived, he's come into his own.
© Matt Collar /TiVo
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Dawn Joseph, Backing Vocals - Geoff Pesche, Engineer - Dan Frampton, Engineer - Rick Astley, Composer, Producer, Drums, Engineer, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer, Bass, MainArtist - Rob Taggart, Keyboards - Lauren Johnson, Backing Vocals - Lene Bausager, Choir - Katie Owens, Choir - Simon Mattacks, Choir - Tom Ashpitel, Choir - Peter Neill, Choir
© 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Dawn Joseph, Backing Vocals - Geoff Pesche, Engineer - Dan Frampton, Engineer - Rick Astley, Composer, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer, Bass, MainArtist, RecordingEngineer - Lauren Johnson, Backing Vocals
© 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Dawn Joseph, Backing Vocals - Geoff Pesche, Engineer - Dan Frampton, Engineer - Rick Astley, Composer, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer, Bass, MainArtist, RecordingEngineer - Rob Taggart, Keyboards - Lauren Johnson, Backing Vocals
© 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Dawn Joseph, Backing Vocals - Geoff Pesche, Engineer - Dan Frampton, Engineer - Rick Astley, Composer, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer, Bass, MainArtist, RecordingEngineer - Lauren Johnson, Backing Vocals
© 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Geoff Pesche, Engineer - Dan Frampton, Engineer - Rick Astley, Composer, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer, Bass, MainArtist, RecordingEngineer
© 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Dawn Joseph, Backing Vocals - Geoff Pesche, Engineer - Dan Frampton, Engineer - Rick Astley, Composer, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer, Bass, MainArtist, RecordingEngineer - Lauren Johnson, Backing Vocals
© 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Dawn Joseph, Backing Vocals - Geoff Pesche, Engineer - Dan Frampton, Engineer - Rick Astley, Composer, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer, Bass, MainArtist, RecordingEngineer - Lauren Johnson, Backing Vocals
© 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Geoff Pesche, Engineer - Dan Frampton, Engineer - Rick Astley, Composer, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer, Bass, MainArtist, RecordingEngineer - Rob Taggart, Keyboards
© 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Dawn Joseph, Backing Vocals - Geoff Pesche, Engineer - Barnaby Dickinson, Trombone - Dan Frampton, Engineer - Rick Astley, Composer, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer, Bass, MainArtist, RecordingEngineer - James Knight, Saxophone, Brass - George Hogg, Trumpet - Lauren Johnson, Backing Vocals
© 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Geoff Pesche, Engineer - Dan Frampton, Engineer - Rick Astley, Composer, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer, Bass, MainArtist, RecordingEngineer
© 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Dawn Joseph, Backing Vocals - Geoff Pesche, Engineer - Dan Frampton, Engineer - Rick Astley, Composer, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer, Bass, MainArtist, RecordingEngineer - Lauren Johnson, Backing Vocals
© 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Geoff Pesche, Engineer - Dan Frampton, Engineer - Rick Astley, Composer, Producer, Drums, Guitar, Backing Vocals, Writer, Bass, MainArtist, RecordingEngineer - Katy Cox, Cello
© 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
Album review
An abiding love of classic soul, twangy rock, and R&B has always been at the core of Rick Astley's pop sound. It's an organic blend that he's been increasingly digging into since 2016's 50 and one which underpins all of 2023's Are We There Yet? His third album to be produced out of his home studio in London, the album feels like a love letter to the earthy, blues-influenced work of artists like Bill Withers and Otis Redding. Central to the album is "Dippin' My Feet," an infectious, country- and gospel-tinged rocker that nicely evokes the similarly rootsy, throwback style of Oklahoma singer JD McPherson. In fact, it's easy to imagine Astley hearing the rise of roots-inspired artists like McPherson and even singers like Hozier (another possible touchstone for the sounds at play on Are We There Yet?) and finding common pop ground. Here, he takes a back-to-basics approach, framing his resonant baritone in ringing piano and organ flourishes, crisp acoustic guitars, handclaps, and warm backing vocal harmonies. While the album certainly has a lovingly crafted, analog quality, there's a raw immediacy to many of these tracks, as if they were recorded live-in-studio or captured at a passionate church service. It's an earthy vibe reflected in Astley's vocals, as on the gospel-influenced "Never Gonna Stop," where he takes on the throaty intensity of a blues singer. Other evocative sounds pop up elsewhere, as on "High Enough," a minor-key number with echoey vibraphone accents that brings to mind the yearning atmosphere of a Chris Isaak song. Similarly, "Forever and More" has the crisp, guitar-driven soulfulness of an '80s Style Council track. Certainly, all of the rootsy soulfulness Astley embraces on Are We There Yet? is far removed from the studio sophistication of his early hits. That said, it feels genuine and hard-won by age and experience. With Are We There Yet?, Astley hasn't just arrived, he's come into his own.
© Matt Collar /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 00:41:08
- Main artists: Rick Astley
- Composer: Rick Astley
- Label: BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited ℗ 2023 50/50 LIVE LTD under exclusive licence to BMG Rights Management (UK) Limited
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