Katie Melua Unleashes “The Flood” this Spring

I’ve been a Katie Melua fan forever. Getting to see her last Spring in Cambridge, MA. was SUCH a treat. She’s super talented and beautiful to boot. When I started to hear mutterings that the also brilliant William Orbit was working with Melua on her record, I just about died. Why? He’s the man behind Madonna’s EVER-BRILLIANT Ray Of Light album. Orbit’s also known for his work with such talented artists as Beth Orton, Olive, Blur and Peter Gabriel, just to name a few. From remixes to original productions, William Orbit is a master at his craft. The very idea of putting the Orbit touch on a Katie Melua record is beyond brilliant to me.

Way back when Melua’s label let fans send in questions for Melua to answer and one of mine was selected. I asked the artist if she would ever consider contributing vocals to a electronica/dance track. Melua answered, “Yes” if it was the right fit for her. I brushed it off and forgot about it. Then, I heard “The Flood” – Melua’s first single off of her upcoming fourth album. No, “The Flood” is not a straight up dance song but IS a departure from her previous efforts – and a brilliant departure at that. The song really excels preserving all of the qualities that make Melua’s voice so captivating.

Katie Melua & William Orbit in the studio

Not dramatically different from some of her previous singles, “The Flood” starts out as any other Melua song might…with a beautiful orchestra leading into Melua’s first verse. Melua starts in with the first few verses, singing along at a slower, more laid-back tempo. THEN at the 2:10 mark, the song takes a dramatic turn into the unexpected. The tempo dramatically shifts into an up-tempo dance number. Of course, things slow down right before the track ends but WOW. That minute and a half of dance music was what I had been waiting for since I first heard Melua’s voice. It worth the wait. After listening to the song on the Music Fascination blog (ripped from it’s BBC Radio 2 radio premiere on the Ken Bruce show) several times, I took to Twitter to let everyone know just how fabulous it was.

@Fool_4_Jamie Can’t stop listening to the Katie Melua/@WilliamOrbit track The Flood. A beautiful departure from her older stuff…but still the same vibe.

@WilliamOrbit @Fool_4_Music wait till you hear the album!

I think that’s an endorsement if I’ve ever heard one. The new Katie Melua album is going to be a beautiful thing. Titled The House, the album features the songwriting talent of Melua herself as well as Lauren Christy (Christina Aguilera, Avril Lavigne – as The Matrix), Guy Chambers (Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue) and Rick Nowels (Colbie Caillat, Dido). “The Flood” is due out on May 17th in the UK, followed by the album release on May 24th. The album is due out in the U.S. on August 3rd. Additionally, artwork for “The Flood” and The House is being worked on by UK artist John Gosler, according to a Tweet from Melua’s longtime producer Mike Batt. Looks like this is all coming together! I, for one, can’t wait!

Tracklisting for The House: