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Review: 'HARVIEU, REN'
'Revel In The Drama'   

-  Label: 'Bella Union'
-  Genre: 'Pop' -  Release Date: '3rd April 2020'

Our Rating:
The future looked bright for Ren Harvieu when, as a 17-year-old, she signed to Island Records. In 2012, she released 'Through The Night' but a freak accident around that time, in which she broke her spine, proved the harbinger of some dark years. This included a split with her long term partner and her manager. The deal with Island ended just six months after the release of her debut album.

The line "I wanna give me another chance of life" in Tomorrow's Girl Today sums up the mood and intent of this belated follow up.

Harvieu's fortunes changed after meeting Romeo Stodart of the Magic Numbers in 2015. He had emailed after seeing her perform on Later With Jools Holland and ended up co-producing the album with Dave Izumi Lynch.

The big, passionate sound she was seeking 8 years ago is retained but the sentiments this time round strive to be more of a reflection of her own personality. She told Stodart : "I don’t just want to paint pretty pictures, I want to revel in the drama of my life."   

The record therefore signals the blossoming of this shy, former goth from Salford. She flirts with a more glamorous persona of a femme fatale yet has more in common the constant craving of K.D. Lang than the sexed-up sultriness of Lana del Rey.

Her vulnerabilities can be heard when she sings "strip me of my wounds and hold me tight" in Cruel Surprise although a sassy femininity surfaces in a tune such as Curves & Swerves.

Overall, this is an above-average pop record where the resonant vocals and retro arrangements are well matched.   

Ren Harvieu's website
  author: Martin Raybould

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HARVIEU, REN - Revel In The Drama