This Time

Personnel: Melanie C (vocals, background vocals); Adam Argyle (vocals); Paul Gendler (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Phil Thornalley (guitar, Mellotron, drums, percussion, background vocals); Joel Edwards (guitar, background vocals); Luke Potashnick, Mark Tufty Evans, Paul Grady (guitar); Charlie Grant (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar); Greg Hatwell (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Ian Burdge (cello); Tchad Blake (harmonica); Simon Clarke (saxophone); Roddy Lorimer (trumpet); Guy Chambers (piano, tack piano, keyboards); Steve Mac (piano, synthesizer); Peter-John Vettese (piano, programming); James Bourne (piano); Robin Barter (keyboards, bass guitar); Pete Woodroffe (keyboards, drum programming); David Munday, Nick Nasmyth (keyboards); Trevor Barry, Steve Pearce, Scott Firth (bass guitar); Vinnie Lammi, Mark Richardson , Ralph Salmins, Ian Thomas (drums); Chris Laws (percussion); Paul Stanborough, Richard Flack (programming); Lizzy Pattinson, Gary Nuttall (background vocals).
Audio Mixers: Mark Tufty Evans; Chris Chandler ; Paul Grady; Phil Thornalley; Richard Flack; Stephen Hague.
Recording information: Area 21, London, England; Kore Studios, London, England; Olympic Studios, London, England; Real World Studios, Box, Wiltshire, England; Rokstone Studios, London, England; Sleeper Studios, London, England; Strongroom, London, England; The Swamp, London, England.
Photographers: Lorenzo Agius; Ali Kepenek.
Arranger: Steve Mac .
This Time around, Melanie C has decided to abandon any pretense that she either makes sprightly dance-pop or that she was once known as "Indie Spice," and devotes herself entirely to smooth adult pop. There are traces of Coldplay and muted Robbie Williams, along with a fair sampling of Texas and Dido, and it's all blended together into something that's sleek, atmospheric, and melodic. Melanie C does just fine as a vocalist. Her thin voice has gained some character, and she's learned how to milk turns of phrases to give them emotion. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine