Seal: 'Amazing'

Bit of an odd one, Seal. He's never really made it as a mega-star, but neither has he disappeared from view like many of his early '90s contemporaries. He seems content just to pop up every now and then with a big ballad and show off his luscious vocal chords before packing his bags and shacking up with Heidi Klum for another couple of years. And who would blame him? His latest single, 'Amazing', doesn't quite live up to its title's billing but it's a decent enough addition to the crooner's back catalogue. His legendary baritone is as deep and husky-breathed as ever, but rather than a load of strings and wet ballad dreariness, he's installed a terse, fidgety dance beat to the back of it.

Stuart Price, he who rescued Madonna from her ill-advised political angling on American Life in helping her to produce her Confessions On A Dance Floor LP, is behind the decks. His addition of some fat '80s synths and a melody that glistens more than the Oxford Street Christmas lights are what stands out on this single. His knob-twiddling handiwork lifts the track above and beyond the traditional soaring ballads most people Seal's age are knocking out. Maybe Price should move on to helping Sir Cliff next. A few disco beats on the Christian-Christmas-pop legend's new single could fetch him from the musical wilderness...On second thoughts, best keep them apart.