Revelation

Album Review

Five years after his appearance on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here sparked an unexpected pop career revival, Peter Andre returns with his fourth solo studio LP, Revelation, arguably more high-profile than what he was putting out in his '90s Mysterious Girl heyday. His last album, The Long Road Back, may have flopped, but thanks to his tempestuous love life and fly-on-the-wall reality TV shows, Andre has become a permanent fixture in the U.K. tabloids. Now, with complete musical control for the first time in his career, Revelation is his opportunity to showcase his talents as a serious artist, rather than his talents to court publicity. Unlike his last effort, the embarrassing karaoke-styled Whole New World duets collection with now estranged wife Katie Price, Revelation at least attempts to be more inventive, not least for the fact it's co-written and produced by A.C. Burrell, a founding member of grime collective So Solid Crew. Indeed, his desire to distance himself from his rather dubious musical past couldn't be more evident on the guitar-led lead single "Behind Closed Doors," where Andre's rocky Bryan Adams-inspired vocals are unrecognizable from his more familiar Michael Jackson-influenced soulful tones. Luckily, Andre refrains from this Stars in Their Eyes-style impersonation with the rest of the album, which veers from modern, synth-led R&B on the Taio Cruz-esque "Outta Control" and "Distance," to old-school ballads "Go Back" and "XOXO," reminiscent of Boyz II Men's mid-'90s output. With its use of early Timbaland staccato beats and New Jack swing sound, the majority of Revelation could easily have appeared on his previous excursion into U.S. R&B, 1998's Time. But even though it may not be the huge musical forward leap that Andre suggested, the Justin Timberlake—influenced electro-funk of "The Way You Move" and the Ne-Yo style slow jam "Sliding Doors" indicate that he does have the potential to challenge his more credible contemporaries. Unsurprisingly, the lyrics are dominated by his relationship with Jordan, and the likes of "Call the Doctor" and "Replay" will certainly satisfy OK magazine readers looking for more insight into his rather public private life. But at times its self-autobiographical nature becomes a bit too over-bearing, particularly on the schmaltzy closing track "Unconditional." Considering it never really ventures outside Andre's comfort zone, Revelation doesn't exactly live up to its title, but without a cheesy reggae-pop track or Disney cover version in sight, it's by far his strongest and most convincing album to date. ~ Jon O'Brien, Rovi