The absolute antithesis of a musical one-trick-pony act, Neneh Cherry’s three-decades-strong career has been wonderful to behold, as the Sweden-born, US and UK-bred singer-songwriter has continually defied our expectations of her, while boldly and bravely dismissing convention in her songcraft. Across five genre-blurring studio albums—including her most recent LP, 2018’s powerful Broken Politics—and an expansive résumé of collaborations, Cherry’s music has been damn near impossible to pigeonhole, yet so easy and rewarding to embrace.
Upon moving from the US to London in her early teenage years, Cherry immersed herself in the burgeoning UK rock and punk circles of the late 1970s. She later aligned herself with the hip-hop, dub, reggae and electronic music mélange cultivated by the evolving Bristol sound system culture of the 1980s, becoming a close confidante of the revered Wild Bunch collective, which notably spawned Massive Attack and Tricky.
Seizing inspiration from her vibrant musical education and experiences, Cherry’s breakthrough debut album Raw Like Sushi arrived in the spring of 1989, propelled by the momentum of its unforgettable lead single “Buffalo Stance” released a handful of months prior. A feast for the ears and a sedative for the soul, Raw Like Sushi resonated profoundly with music fans on both sides of the Atlantic who were eager for a fresh new voice accompanied by vibrant soundscapes. Hence, it’s no great surprise that it remains one of the most dynamic and beloved debut LPs ever made.
In honor of Raw Like Sushi’s recent 30th anniversary milestone, Virgin Records and Universal Music have curated an expansive, multi-format deluxe reissue, which is slated to land in UK stores January 31st and stateside February 14th. The jewels of the initiative are the 3xCD and 3xLP vinyl box sets, which include two discs of remixes and a thick 48-page book replete with photos, interviews, liner notes and more to accompany the original studio album. Fans who prefer their records in simpler form or have tighter space on their shelves can choose from the vinyl, CD or digital formats, all remastered at London’s famed Abbey Road Studios.
Check out the full track listing of the deluxe box set here, then listen to the original album and revisit the accompanying music videos below.
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