Fall to Grace

Fall to Grace is the second studio album by English singer Paloma Faith, released on 28 May 2012 by RCA Records.

Fall to Grace peaked at number 2 in the UK and was certified Double Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry, denoting shipments in excess of 600,000 copies.

"[8] On 29 February 2012, Paloma revealed her second album would be called Fall to Grace and that it would be released by RCA Records on 28 May 2012.

[1][5] Paloma enlisted record producer Nellee Hooper and co-producer Jake Gosling to work with her on the project.

[5][9] Hooper told a writer for NME that he had not really heard of Paloma as he was living in Los Angeles when her first album was released.

In the past I felt misunderstood and had to kind of force-feed people pictures, or buy them DVDs and say, 'Go home and watch this'.

"[2] In an interview with The Guardian Paloma referred to Fall to Grace as "a soundtrack to my last few years", and added: "Relationships with friends and family.

"[15] She said that she was a fan of Plan B's song "Ill Manors," about the 2011 riots across England, and so had attempted a track of her own dealing with similar issues.

Tricky concept to pull off without causing offence, and Paloma is sensitive about being seen as cut off or removed from the unrest that sparked 2011's troubles in her native Hackney.

[15]In another interview Paloma explained the title of album, saying that she "took the phrase fall from grace, which is usually when people have come from something good and screwed up.

Phil Johnson from The Independent had mixed response, said: "There's such a belt-and-braces approach that the array of sounds (strings, choirs, tubular bells, beats and synths, dubby blurbs and squeaks) can come across as overbearing, while Paloma's moody vocals are mannered by design".

[24] Robert Copsey from Digital Spy had a more positive review, telling: "There's no such worry on Fall To Grace which, at times, feels astonishingly honest.

A shining example is lead single 'Picking Up The Pieces', an epic song about relationship neuroses that feels worthy of its own Adele moment".

"Producer Nellee Hooper (Madonna, Bjork) and Jake Gosling (Ed Sheeran) remain at the helm throughout, creating sumptuous melodies on ballads 'Black & Blue' and 'Just Be' that are packed to the brim with old glamour".

She scapes depressing us with her constant tales of relationship woes on the chorus of 'Freedom' which, despite the subject matter, has a wonderful gospel-like quality.

[21] A review from the Express by Simon Cage had a mixed response, he said: "Add world-class writers and producers with everyone from Adele to Madonna on their CVs and it’s no surprise that this is a high-quality outing".

[25] Nick Levine from BBC, said: "Lead single Picking Up the Pieces is epic, like stallions galloping across the silver screen, and Fall to Grace has several other grand, cinematic ballads.

Agony seems to be rewriting Lana Del Rey's Video Games, but then decides to sound like Tori Amos covering Mr. Brightside.

It takes two imperfect people to dance a sweet ballet," she sings on Blood, Sweat & Tears, offering a neat précis of the Paloma perspective: romantic but realistic.

[27] Fall to Grace debuted at number two on the UK Albums Chart for the week ending 2 June 2012, behind Gary Barlow's Sing.

[41] In Scotland, Fall to Grace debuted at number one for the issue dated 9 June 2012, becoming Paloma's first chart-topping album.

[45] In describing the artwork for the single, she did so in homage of Marilyn Monroe who sometimes had a tragic look in her eyes while she overall appearing glamorous; Paloma attempted to achieve the same look of vulnerability and beauty, as if she was caught unprepared before she was heading to an event.

The artwork of the single reflects as it depicts a fantasy of what she believes it would have felt like if they met, again, and shows her in a dreamy setting about to kiss a man.

The artwork for the single depicts Paloma in a similar way, wearing very little make-up and exposing her imperfections while being at home with herself and her flaws.

To promote the album, the acoustic version of "Black & Blue" was made available as a free download on the British Amazon MP3 store from 15 May 2012 until 3 July 2012.

[47][48] In June 2012, Paloma announced details of a UK, Ireland and United States tour to promote Fall to Grace.

Faith on her Fall to Grace tour in Manchester, January 2013