Seven (Lisa Stansfield album)

Background and release

After releasing her previous album The Moment in 2004, Stansfield focused on acting. She played herself in the comedy series Monkey Trousers in mid-2005. In late 2006, she appeared in the drama series Goldplated, playing Trinny Jamieson. In September 2007, Stansfield appeared in another television series, Agatha Christie's Marple. She played Mary Durrant in the episode titled Ordeal by Innocence. Later, Stansfield dubbed one of the characters (Millie, an elf) for the English version of the Finnish animated film Quest for a Heart released in December 2007. She has also recorded the title song "Quest for a Heart" written by Charlie Mole and Lee Hall and produced by Mole in collaboration with Ali Thomson. In 2007, Stansfield joined the cast of The Edge of Love directed by John Maybury. The film starring Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, Cillian Murphy and Matthew Rhys premiered in June 2008. Stansfield played the role of Ruth Williams. In mid-2009, she starred in the Nick Mead-directed documentary Dean Street Shuffle playing herself. In 2012, Elaine Constantine gave Stansfield a role in Northern Soul, an independent docu-drama about the social phenomenon and generation of this music and dance movement. The film was released in October 2014.

Stansfield's career has spanned over three decades, boasting sales of over twenty million records and a string of international top ten hits including: "All Around the World", "Change", "All Woman", "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" and others. The Grammy nominated, multi BRIT, Ivor Novello and Silver Clef Award winner has returned to the studio in 2012 to record her next album along with long-time songwriting partner and husband Ian Devaney. Stansfield also embarked on the Seven Tour in May 2013 and ended it in November 2014. In August 2013, she announced that her seventh studio album titled simply Seven will be released in October 2013. However, on 16 October 2013, Stansfield announced via her Facebook that the release date had been pushed back to early 2014. Seven was released on 31 January 2014 in Europe and 10 February 2014 in the United Kingdom. In October 2014, the album was re-released with new material as Seven+.

Content

Seven which has been produced and written in the United Kingdom by Stansfield and Ian Devaney features tracks such as: "Can't Dance", "The Rain", "Stupid Heart", "Conversation", "The Crown", "So Be It" and "Picket Fence". Recorded in both Los Angeles and Manchester, Stansfield has collaborated with John Robinson and orchestrator Jerry Hey, both integral to the creation of Michael Jackson's Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad and have worked with Stansfield for over two decades. Following her critically acclaimed return to live performance in 2013 – The Times wrote that Stansfield "still has the most distinctive and sensuous voice in soul pop." Seven marks her return to the international stage and confirms her status as one of the UK's premier recording artists. The deluxe edition contains live versions of Stansfield's previous hits, recorded during her show at the Sound Control in Manchester on 20 November 2012, and also a new version of "You Can't Deny It" remixed by Ian Devaney.

In October 2014, the album was re-released as Seven+. In the UK, it was issued on 20 October 2014 as a two-disc edition with original track listing plus one new song, "There Goes My Heart" and fifteen remixes. In Europe, Seven+ was released as a single disc with "There Goes My Heart" and fifteen remixes on 31 October 2014. The songs were remixed by Cahill, Moto Blanco, Snowboy, Andy Lewis, Opolopo, Cool Million and Soul Talk.

Critical reception

Seven received favourable reviews. TheGayUK's Chris Jones said: "Finally, after 10 long years, she's back - but by god, it was worth the wait. Seven, Lisa's seventh album, gives us 10 tracks that make you cry, make you dance and make you glad you have ears!" The Daily Express's Stephen Unwin said: "And after a hiatus of almost 10 years, Lisa is back. Late 2012 saw her dipping her toes in with a few sell-out, intimate UK gigs, just to let everyone know that the voice is still spine-tingling, and to showcase a few tracks from this comeback album which are more-ishly good."

Commercial performance

Seven debuted in mid-February 2014 at number thirteen in the United Kingdom and Germany, number twenty-five in Austria, number thirty-two in Czech Republic and number forty-two in Switzerland. In the UK, Seven surpassed Stansfield's previous efforts Face Up (number 38, 2001) and The Moment (number 57, 2004) by debuting at number thirteen (5,930 sales). All of her first four studio albums made the top ten in the UK, most recently a self-titled 1997 effort, which peaked at number two.