As choreographed returns go, the arrival of Adele's first new single for three years is pretty impressive. "Hello, it's me" are the words that open this epic ballad co-written with Californian producer Greg Kurstin. As with the teasing opening minute of the video, the song unravels itself slowly, building to a wind swept chorus, where Adele's vocal is turned up to 11. The good news is her voice is sounding as rich as ever, and as always, countered with that slight husk.
Unlike the disappointing Bond theme Skyfall (her last single) there are no weird phrasings and the song feels less rushed. Well, let's be honest it has taken four years to get here. That wait led to an extraordinary weight of expectation, and Hello just about lives up to the hype, ahead of the album 25 later in November. It doesn't match the heart-wrenching emotion of Someone Like You but it comes close. Adele says it's a song about losing friendships - saying that 25 will be a make-up album not a break-up album - but the video hints to the contrary. "It's so typical of me to talk about myself" she sings on Hello, but that raw honesty is what warms people to her songs.
However you read the meaning, Hello is certainly what the industry is looking for. British music seems to have been on hold for twelve months since the apparent aborted release of Adele's third album and there will be a deep sigh of relief at Hello's arrival. Few artists can match the impact of this London girl, and she is reassuringly honest about how nervous she was (and is) ahead of the comeback. You get the feeling she'll be OK though.
