Seal (Warner Bros.)
Album of the week
Since his arrival in 1991, British singer-songwriter Seal (real name: Sealhenry Samuel) hasn't exactly been prolific. Not when his output is a scant three CDs and two hit singles (including 1995's "Kiss from a Rose"). Luckily, what he lacks in productivity he makes up for in talent. Four years in the making, Human Being is a collection of love songs that feature Seal's warm vocals and the lush, atmospheric production of Trevor Horn. This is dream pop that breathes emotion, a feature especially apparent on the wistful waltz "Just Like You Said" and the forceful "Human Beings." It is a testimony to the power of his music that even with such a small catalog, Seal has managed to create his own oeuvre, an eclectic mix of New Age, rock, folk and electronica that is both artsy and commercially viable.
Bottom Line: Emotional vocals soar over a dreamy blur of musical styles
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