Gone are the days of the Presley-esque
Cliff Richard, though Real is a notch above many of his pop albums. He presents an eclectic collection here, which covers everything from an Italian duet ("La Vita Mia") to synth pop ("Climbing Up Mt. Everest"), low-key ballads and confections to a ballad with
Olivia Newton-John. For a middle-aged man,
Cliff Richard has kept a very young and modern approach to his music, but breathes substance into songs that might otherwise sound like gloss. Nothing here seems like a tackle for
Richard; he does not sway far from his element, but his mature sensibility takes the songs a step higher. "Even If It Breaks My Heart" expands pop into a whole new realm with its operatic intro that dives right into a kitschy chorus. The CD could do without another remake of
Bob Carlisle's sappy "Butterfly Kisses," but mainly
Real As I Wanna Be is a breath of fresh air from a familiar friend. ~ Peter Fawthrop