British pop group Blue have returned with their seventh studio album, 'Reflections', marking their fourth release since reuniting in 2011. The four-piece man-band, now in their forties, are on a deliberate mission to transport listeners back to their chart-topping heyday at the turn of the millennium.
A Forced Party Atmosphere
The album's penultimate track, 'Souls of the Underground', sets the intended tone with the lyric "Blue's in the house / Oh it's party time!". This encapsulates the record's core ambition: to evoke an era of early 2000s indulgence, referencing Met bar table service, "a little prosecco" for the ladies and a "nice cold beer" for the guys. However, the musical execution struggles to match this vision.
Rather than successfully updating their signature blend of pop, hip-hop, and R&B, the album often presents a clunkier, lower-budget approximation of their former sound. It brings to mind their 2002 hit 'Fly By II', but without the same polished sheen, landing closer to a tribute act than a genuine revival.
Lost in a Sea of Boyband Clichés
While tapping into pop's current nostalgia trend is a logical move, 'Reflections' frequently fails to highlight what originally made Blue distinct. Instead, across its 13 tracks, the record often feels like an homage to other enduring boybands.
The tempo remains stubbornly mid-paced for much of the album, with the dreary ballad 'Candlelight Fades' singled out as a particular low point, described as reminiscent of "Westlife on a bad day". Tracks like 'One Last Time' and 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' are performed with gusto but sonically echo the style of Take That's 'Patience' era.
Even the pleasingly epic opening song, 'The Vow', is let down by awkward lyrics that lack the songwriting finesse of Gary Barlow, such as "You're a sweet child of mine / You're like a grape to my vine."
A Plea to Return to the Start
The album closes on an acoustic note with 'Find That Feeling', which is littered with references to the band's own history. The song pleads for a chance to "return to the start" and to "be young and to be foolish" once more.
This final sentiment underscores the album's overarching issue. While 'Reflections' is clearly a labour of love aimed at long-time fans, its execution ultimately leaves the listener wishing the band had embraced more of that foolish, carefree spirit of their youth, rather than delivering a rehash that feels mechanically nostalgic.
The album 'Reflections' is out now on Blue Blood International and Cooking Vinyl.
