Seven [Expanded Edition]

Seven, produced and written with longtime creative partner and husband Ian Devaney, is Lisa Stansfield's first album in nearly a decade. Despite concentrating on her acting career during the intervening years, Stansfield's voice is at full power, with all the elegance and power of her earlier work. The album is simultaneously retro yet fresh-sounding, led by the organic throwback disco of "Can't Dance." Stansfield and Devaney get some expert help from drummer John Robinson and arranger Jerry Hey, session giants who are well known among credit-scanning fans of soul, disco, and crossover jazz. ~ Andy Kellman