U.K. Singer Rebecca Ferguson invades America

Those who love well-crafted songs and classic soul REJOICE! The debut album, HEAVEN, from Rebecca Ferguson, a 26-year-old from Wales with a brilliantly unique voice and top-drawer songwriting skills, will be released in the U.S. May 15.

HEAVEN is a collection of yummy adult pop songs dipped in luscious vintage soul.

Runner-up in the 2010 British X-Factor competition, Ferguson was refreshing, classy and original in a TV genre known for contestants with more gall than talent. Ferguson advanced to the finals, but didn’t win (despite the support of high-profile supporters like Adele, who voted more than 80 times for Rebecca).

Past contestants have been harshly critical of The X-Factor, but not Ferguson. Though she could have benefited from greater confidence, Rebecca possesses what is rare among competitors: dignity.

Ferguson’s voice blends Aretha’s powerful intonation and Nina Simone’s polished imperfection. There is no trace of insecurity on HEAVEN; every word and note rings with assurance.

Rebecca’s range of expression is captured with expert production by Eg White (Adele, Duffy), Wayne Hector (Tom Jones, Toni Braxton) and Fraser T. Smith (Leona Lewis).

Honest vocals verging on a session sound set her apart from the herd of auto-tuned pop stars yodeling up and down the scales. She delivers each song with conviction.

The ballad “Shoulder To Shoulder” is a poetic gem about affection and argument that begins with the stunning confession: “I feel safe when you’re near me, and I can hold you completely … though you constantly hurt me.”

The locomotion of “Run Free” is reminiscent of the churning bass from Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean.” “Mr. Bright Eyes” is a flirty track that could be a Motown golden-era hit. The dizzying strings, brassy horns and the stage band verve of “Fighting Suspicions” sound like a classic James Bond theme.

The punchy bonus track “Backtrack” sounds cheerful, but tells the story of a woman who refuses to put up with her lover’s transgressions. Ferguson’s first U.K. single “Giltter & Gold” is a cautionary tale for those who would be tempted to barter their soul for gain.

The piano/viola ballad “Teach Me How To Be Loved” washes over with quiet intensity and sheer vulnerability:

One foot onto the ice, I hold my breath and try to believe…

The fallen empires, the shattered glass, the wicked echoes of my past,

I’ve seen it all before, that’s why I’m asking:

Will you still be here tomorrow, or will you leave in the dead of the night?

So your waves don’t crash around me, I’m staying one step ahead of the tide.

Will you leave me lost in my shadows, or will you pull me into your light?

Teach me how to be loved.

Through all the moods of this album, the focus remains firmly on Ferguson’s vocals; and it’s a terrific instrument fueled by heart, not vocal acrobatics. HEAVEN restores adult concerns to the R&B genre that have been largely missing for the past few decades.

Rebecca Ferguson proves that she is romantic, but not a sap.