Various artists

Radio 1’s Live Lounge has become a distinct mainstay of the youth oriented station. Over the years it has played host to some of the best and the biggest in contemporary music. Everyone from Robbie Williams to Taylor Swift has showcased their musical wares, as well as putting their own spin on some of their favourite artists.

Entitled, BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge 2016,the compilation continues in that vein, bringing together the previous year’s best sessions.

The folks at the Beeb have, for the most part succeeded in providing an enjoyable reimagining of top tunes, courtesy of a strong cast of talent. Birdy drops in to provide some beautiful stripped down vocals on: Jonas Blue’s ‘Fast Car’, [originally by Tracy Chapman] DNCE get funky with Selena Gomez’s ‘Hands to Myself’, while Nick Jonas knocks it out of the park, with his take on Zara Larsson’s ‘Lush Life’.

Other big names to grace this two disc addition include, The Weekend, Fleur East, The 1975, Fifth Harmony, and One Direction.

While the majority of the material focuses on musicians covering their friends and favourites, their efforts on their own craft do at least occasionally pop up. Lounge newcomers, Lukas Graham give a compelling and confident rendition of the life affirming ‘7 Years’, Mike Posner goes with a four chords and the truth approach, [‘I Took A Pill In Ibiza’], while Coldplay offer a gently melodic version of their hit ‘Adventure Of A Lifetime’.


For those looking for the thrill and the buzz of a typical live album they might struggle to find it here. The sessions, recorded at Radio 1 are very clean quality cuts, but which very rarely involve the interactions of a fervent crowd. Things could do with a little bit more atmosphere.


Nevertheless, if you’re a Radio 1 fan or just partial to a good cover or two, then this 38 track offering has something for you.