Seal II

Seal’s 1994 follow-up to his smash debut focuses on his soulful voice, with pop maximalist Trevor Horn playing up its rugged contours by surrounding it with high-gloss instrumentation. A sprightly flute and jittery acoustic guitars propel “Fast Changes”; soaring vocal harmonies and dramatic flourishes give “Kiss From a Rose” a cinematic sweep; and Joni Mitchell’s cameo on the psych-tinged plea “If I Could” adds a soothing counterweight to Seal’s longing. <i>Seal II</i>’s sonic contrasts and deeply felt lyrics add up to a stirring statement.