Cleo Sol’s ‘Heaven’ Is An Album for Broken Ears [Review]

Cleo Sol’s third studio album, Heaven, released on September 13th, expands on the human experience, departing from the main focus of motherhood and exploring other topics. Whilst Mother surveyed the parallels between her own motherhood and that which brought her into the world, Heaven extends the perspective and considers other relationships in other realms: friendship, fidelity, and familial relationships from a place of assured wisdom.

Cleopatra Nikolic, who nicknames herself ‘Cleo Sol’, supposedly uses a play on words that make up the name we know her by- ‘sol’, a tribute to her mother’s Spanish heritage, a homophone to ’soul,’ which is an appropriate name for the singer songwriter, as she reminds her listeners once again that she’s quietly but undeniably asserted her space in the sound of UK soul and RnB.

Sol picks up her pen right from where she left off, collaborating once more with producer Inflo. Gospel tones are ever present on the record, and accompany the melodies of spiritual self-work flowing through them. Almost prophetic notes show Sol calling on a higher power, in moments of inner conflict and discord.

The same healing and tranquil voice we know have become so familiar with returns once again, much to listeners delight, and in Heaven, supposedly tells stories from her past and teaches a younger Sol, an inner child, lessons about life, love, and faith that she wished somebody would’ve taught her. Sol’s voice travels freely over a number of ballads on this album, continuing her mellow, airy and soothing voice that she is so known for on top of jazz like expressions. Cleo’s voice is familiar, light and buoyant. New Age jazz-like expressions, run through the record effortlessly, calling on contemporary RnB as the obvious influence that permeates throughout the album.

The opening track, ’Self’, sees Sol beginning the album with an honest plea to God - and in asking Him to save her from herself, we notice that this album will be something like a conversation between Sol and God- one that she has been kind enough to let us listen into. Speaking to the all too relatable adolescent feeling of not having a place in the world that so many of us have felt, these ballads that ring with a tone of hope and reassurance show listeners that Cleo Sol remains a healing voice in a world of doubt.

She tells stories that could be similar to what a younger person may be going through, a story of a lost friend, and another of the lost hopes of imaginary romance. The record moves from past mistakes and pains and moves to self-assurance, and Sol goes on to reassures herself of her purpose, despite outside forces trying to take away from who she is and make her feel like her place in the world doesn’t exist.

Sol is unapologetic to those who don’t fit into her life anymore. She prioritises her own peace - which nothing is worth destroying for, claiming that those who will disrupt this peace can leave, determined that no one will break what she’s built inside. It’s been said that a true love song is one where we can’t figure out who the is being addressed - a lover, or God. Sol makes us ask this question, throughout Heaven as she bears her soul and once more gives us a piece of her thinking and feeling. She expresses her gratitude for a love that has stayed consistently strong despite her waverings.

Every Cleo Sol record is nothing less than a blessing to the ears, to say the least, it’s certain that Heaven will become renowned in Sol’s already well-rounded discography. Sol writes with an almost palpable catharsis as se reflects on the human experience - Heaven’s raw truth and honesty backed with faith and reassurance of purpose, reminds us of the same thing Sol is telling her younger self - ‘you are meant to be here’. Her balladry has become an art form- so simple and effortless, yet so complex and intricate. With murmurs of a tour on the horizon, it’s only right that another timeless record sung by a generational voice provides the latest score to the imagery of our lives - and listeners look forward to where the ‘Promises’ singer could venture next.

Listen to Heaven here!