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Love, Sax and Flashbacks

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Untitled

Love, Sax and Flashbacks is the debut studio album by English recording artist Fleur East. It was released on 4 December 2015, through Syco Music.[2]

Background

In 2005, East was in the girl group Addictiv Ladies, who were on second series of The X Factor, mentored by judge and head of Syco Music, Simon Cowell, but were eliminated in week 1 after ending up in the bottom two with Chico Slimani.[3] East worked as a waitress at the London nightclub Aura Mayfair to help support her music career, and was also a fitness model with the agency W Athletic, but struggled with her finances.[4][5][6] She later said that by early 2014, she was "definitely depressed" and considering ending her music career, until her friends and relatives encouraged her to audition for The X Factor.[7] In June 2014, East then auditioned for the eleventh series of The X Factor. She progressed to the live shows in the Over 25s category, mentored by Cowell. In the ninth week of the live shows, East performed "Uptown Funk" by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars. East's version went to number one on the UK iTunes Store, which led the original song to be released five weeks earlier than planned; it subsequently reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.[8] The following week, during the show's final, East was announced as the runner-up in the competition, losing to Ben Haenow.[9]

Singles

"Sax" was released as the album's lead single on 6 November 2015. Following a critically acclaimed performance of the single on the X Factor,[10][11] it debuted and peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart.[12] This was notably higher than debut single of contemporary, Ben Haenow, which peaked at number 21 in October.[13] As of the 27th November, "Sax" has spent 4 four weeks in the top 5 of the chart.[14] The single has also received over 5 million streams on Spotify. A music video for the single was released on November 26.[15]

Other songs

"Breakfast" was made available to download on 20 November 2015, while "More and More" was made available on 27 November.

Development

After being announced as the runner-up on The X Factor, East signed a recording contract with Syco in January 2015. She began working on her debut studio album shortly following The X Factor tour.[16] East split her time between London and Los Angeles to record it. During recording, she was inspired by "Uptown Funk", and described the songs on the album as "very uptempo and very energetic with lots of attitude. [The album has] got loads of influences from the old school. Lots of funk, hip-hop, soul; loads of different sounds fused together. Everything about that song - the uptempo vibe, the high energy, the brass, the old school funk sound - was just right up my street. I've definitely taken a few influences from that."[17] East revisited her cover of "Uptown Funk", which she had previously pre-recorded as a studio track prior to her performance on The X Factor, and subsequently re-recorded it for the album.

The lead single "Sax", according to East, was one of the first tracks recorded for the album. East stated that she became fond of the track following its recording that she worked hard to make many of the remaining tracks have the same feel and energy to match up to its quality.

In July 2015, Cowell told The Sun regarding East's album: "I've heard it and it's world class. She has discovered who she wanted to be. Sometimes you just spot someone who's not obvious and Fleur's a good example of that".[18] By August, work on the album was almost done.[19] For the album East worked with producers such as Darkchild, Babyface, TMS, Fraser T Smith and Wayne Hector.[17]

Usage in media

East's cover of Alicia Keys' song "Girl on Fire" was used in Virgin Media's television advert for broadband.[20] The album's lead single "Sax" was used in Asda's 2015 Christmas television advert.[21]

Critical Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Digital Spy
Irish Times
The Guardian
Pop Crush
The Arts Desk
Evening Standard

The album has received generally positive review from music critics following its release, with many praising the album's production and upbeat tone, but it has also faced criticism for lacking substance. Digital Spy awarded the album 4 out of 5 stars, calling it "more than just funky brass" and identifying the "refreshing" lack of balladry present. Particular praise was aimed at the album's lead single Sax, and the song Gold Watch.[22]Irish Times were positive in their review of the album, awarding it 4 out of 5 stars. The described the album as "a sassy, funky, brass-infused collection that is equal parts nostalgia trip and sugar rush." The particularly praised the track, Like That, calling it "a song that would give Beyonce a run for her money." [23] Pop Crush also gave the album a positive review, commenting "Love, Sax and Flashbacks is not a game-changing pop masterpiece, and at times, the constant throwbacks start to border on pastiche. What it does have is a breezy, likable charm, and enough interesting twists to feel like a promising start for Fleur East on her quest to become an all-singing, all-dancing pop sensation" and calling it a "true standout". They awarded the album 4 out of 5 stars. [24] The Arts Desk gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, commenting the record "does everything that good pop should, and it does it surprisingly well." [25]

The Guardian were less positive, awarding the album just 2 out of 5 stars. Whilst they commended East's "enormous energy", they criticised the record for lacking substance, suggesting that its "assumption that if the songs dazzle with bright lights and fanfare the public might not notice its vacancy" fails. [26]Evening Standard also gave the album 2 out 5 stars, saying the "signature note of Syco cheapness clings to the whole production and ultimately lets her down."[27]

Track listing

Love, Sax and Flashbacks – Standard edition[28]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Sax"


3:56
2."Breakfast"
 
3."More and More"
  • East
  • Erfjord
  • Michelsen
  • Abrahart
  • Purcell
 
4."Gold Watch"
 
5."Love Me or Leave Me Alone"
 
6."Paris"
  • Fleur East
  • Drewett
  • Erfjord
  • Michelsen
 
7."Kitchen"
 
8."Over Getting Over"
  • Kirby Dockery
  • Andrew “Pop” Wansel
  • Warren “Oak” Felder
  • Tommy Brown
 
9."Baby Don't Dance"
Sermstyle
 
10."Tears Will Dry"
  • East
  • Sanderson
Sermstyle
 
11."Never Say When"
  • East
  • Dockery
  • Wansel
  • Felder
  • Pop & Oak
 
12."Uptown Funk"
  
Love, Sax and Flashbacks – Deluxe edition (bonus tracks)[29]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
12."Like That"
  
13."Serious"
 
14."Know Your Name"
  • East
  • Hansen
  • Tebey Solomon Ottoh
  • Maegan Cottone
  • Kasper Larsen
  • Cutfather
 
15."Uptown Funk"
  • Bhasker
  • Lawrence
  • Mars
  • Ronson
  • Williams
  • Gallaspy
  • Simmons
  • The Gap Band
  • Taylor
  
16."Girl on Fire"
  

References

  1. ^ Behan, Conor (December 3, 2015). "Fleur Eas Flourishes on 'Love, Sax and Flashbacks': Album Review". www.PopCrush.com. Retrieved December 4, 2015. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ "Love, Sax And Flashbacks by Fleur East: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon UK.
  3. ^ "BBC - 1Xtra TX - Addictiv Ladies: X Factor?". BBC. 15 October 2005. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  4. ^ "OMG 2014 X Factor finalist Fleur East knows ALL Rita Ora's party secrets!". nowmagazine.
  5. ^ Anton. "Model/ Sport Profile - W Athletic".
  6. ^ Janine Yaqoob (14 December 2014). "X Factor Final 2014: Fleur East was so broke she nearly gave up music". mirror.
  7. ^ Ashleigh Rainbird (9 December 2014). "X Factor's Fleur East: My fight with depression inspired me to be a winner". mirror.
  8. ^ "Mark Ronson's Uptown Funk breaks all-time streaming record!".
  9. ^ "Ben Haenow wins The X Factor 2014: as it happened - Telegraph". Telegraph.co.uk. 15 December 2014.
  10. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBRH4mFODwM
  11. ^ http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/x-factor-2015-fleur-east-leaves-simon-cowell-speechless-performance-new-single-sax-1527835
  12. ^ http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20151113/7501/
  13. ^ http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/20151023/7501/
  14. ^ http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart
  15. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JZ4pnNtyxQ
  16. ^ "X Factor's Fleur East signs record deal with Simon Cowell's label Syco". Digital Spy.
  17. ^ a b "Fleur East: 'There's definitely a few Uptown Funk influences on my album'". Digital Spy.
  18. ^ "X Factor's Simon Cowell: 'Fleur East's album is world class'". Reveal.
  19. ^ "X Factor star Fleur East: "Debut album almost ready"". Reveal.
  20. ^ "Fleur East's first music after The X Factor is her, and it's a cover". Digital Spy.
  21. ^ "Asda fires first shot in Christmas TV advertising war with festive ad starring Fleur East... and yes, it does get earlier every year". Daily Mail.
  22. ^ http://www.digitalspy.com/music/album-reviews/review/a775921/exclusive-fleur-east-debut-album-love-sax-and-flashbacks-track-by-track-first-listen-review/
  23. ^ http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/album-reviews-the-best-of-the-week-s-new-releases-1.2453114
  24. ^ http://popcrush.com/fleur-east-love-sax-flashbacks-album-review/
  25. ^ http://www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/cd-fleur-east-%E2%80%93-love-sax-and-flashbacks
  26. ^ http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/dec/03/fleur-east-love-sax-and-flashbacks-review-x-factor-pop
  27. ^ http://www.standard.co.uk/stayingin/music/fleur-east-love-sax-and-flashbacks-album-review-let-down-by-cheapness-a3129826.html
  28. ^ "iTunes - Music - Love, Sax and Flashbacks by Fleur East". iTunes Store (GB).
  29. ^ "iTunes - Music - Love, Sax and Flashbacks (Deluxe) by Fleur East". iTunes Store (GB).
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