Lemar is back with a brand new album! Gary Vincent reviews 'Invincible'

So, he’s on his fifth album, that guy from Fame Academy a decade ago. Coming third in a reality show is no barrier to success, it would appear, as his previous four albums now have combined sales of 2 million. Those collections  were full  of radio friendly mid-tempo ballads and light funk that served him well, but the world of music has moved on somewhat since then, and I’m pleased to say, so has Lemar.
 
If you listened to his new collection of 11 songs unseen, you’d swear it was the new Seal album, his vocal style is very similar. The two up-tempo singles have sounded great on Magic, the title song, and most recently The First Time, which was a real grower over the weeks we’ve played it. Those two tracks kick the album off, and are followed by the most Seal-like track of all called Keep On Lovin, which has a great hook. Songs, Beautiful and Hurricane passed me by a little, but by track 6 the album really started to gather pace. Merry-Go-Round builds steadily into a great mid-tempo groove and would make for a great third single. Can’t Let Go is a bit rockier in style with a terrific vocal performance, and the only track to feature a duet (with Shaugnessy) Into The Night Sky remarkably has an almost folky feel to it. There’s a military-type drumbeat that drives The One Who Saves You, and the album’s two closing songs, Very Best and Born To Love  are among the classiest on this collection.
 
All in all it fits well with the sound of 2012. Hear the man himself on Magic 105.4 later in the autumn covering for Rick Astley.

Gary's verdict: I give this album 4 out of 5