Some will appreciate the record for the bursts of soul-infused pop, others will take time to grasp the tiny details and appreciate the deeper layers of Sing To The Moon – whichever angle you choose to view this album from, you can be assured that it’s a magnificent anthology of tranquil, touching and often poignant songs that act as hymns for a modern era.
There is undoubtedly a major talent on show here. The mature songwriting and arrangements testify to that.
Her vocal talent may have already demonstrated irrefutable quality, but Sing To The Moon shows songwriting nous that is light-years ahead of the new class of 2013.
It may be Laura Mvula's fate to be pitched as yet another retro-soul singer, but there's clearly more to her than that.
Mvula's debut is filled with visceral and musical beauty--that is its strong spot. Once she rids her work of thematic repetition and lyrical mundanity, she'll be on to something truly special.
When Mvula is at her peak on this record there’s a vibrancy, and a beautiful eccentricity that mark her out as an artist akin to Jessie Ware, Janelle Monae and Solange.
Although it's more admirable than it is enjoyable, Sing to the Moon marks the arrival of a unique and major talent -- one with a commanding voice seemingly from another dimension -- who should be worth watching for many years to come.
Mvula’s keenly awaited debut record is ornate, gentle and clearly composed by someone with vast musical training. So it’s a shame that so much of it sounds lightweight and shallow.
While Mvula has a great voice and is a skilled musician, she plays it far too safe on her debut LP.
Some of the most creative, interesting, risky, and invigorating jazz-smeared R&B in years. As an album, it isn't incredibly tight, and the lyricwork is very good, but not great. The song-structure is wonderful and challenging though, and Laura's voice is tremulous and beautiful. Every song is delightful and enchanting because of her voice, if nothing else. This is a bright and enjoyable work that fans of nearly any genre will be able to appreciate.
#16 | / | Q Magazine |
#19 | / | MOJO |
#24 | / | eMusic |
#55 | / | musicOMH |
#89 | / | The Quietus |
/ | NPR Music |