It’s that pleasurable ripple of cognitive dissonance in knowing that David isn’t really convincing as a super-cool gym rat horndog, alongside celebrating the fact that he sort of is.
Yes, his definitive 7 Days was about spending half the week humping; but it’s also a hymn to fidelity and not putting out on the first date.
Unfortunately, The Time Is Now doesn’t even bother with the ersatz lived experience of those early hits.
What’s left is inspirational memes slathered over playlist-ready tropical R&B-pop.
The first three songs are superb, but it’s a glossily one-note album.
• Craig David. The Time Is Now. Insanity/Sony.
• ★★★ (out of five)
— Damien Morris/Guardian News & Media
