Sade

Sade – “Stronger Than Pride” (Epic, 19658784821) remains late‑80s sophistication perfected: minimal drum machines, fretless bass in soft focus, nylon‑string filigree, and Sade Adu’s intimate alto delivering hard‑won independence with feather‑light touch. Caribbean hues and jazz polish frame songs that breathe; restraint becomes emotion as grooves glide and space lets each phrase linger. This remaster opens the stereo image so percussion details shimmer, low‑end blooms gently, and backing harmonies wrap the lead like warm air. Essential quiet‑storm, yes, but also quietly radical pop craft—music that suits candlelit rooms, sunrise drives, and high‑end systems alike. A definitive pressing of an album that still teaches elegance, economy, and the power of understatement in modern soul.