Finally, someone has discovered the secret to life. Everyone from Indiana Jones to the Dalai Lama has tried finding it. No surprise it is Barbra Streisand who finds it, then. Cheers, Barbs. The Secret of Life: Partners Volume Two is not a compilation of life-changing messages, but is a documentation of those personable moments which make the heart flutter. Collaborations with the all-time greats, and Sting, feature throughout this sincere and delightful effort. Streisand is backed by contemporary performers, veterans of the studio, and the joy which comes from experiencing life with loved ones. The Secret of Life: Partners Volume Two is all about that. Streisand reflects, as only the greats can, with a convincing openness. Earnestness is hard to come by these days, but from Streisand and her all-star featured artists list, it is never in doubt.
A delightful opener in the form of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face with Hozier starts the album off well enough. Streisand still has the vocal depths necessary to perform with the all-time greats. Her guests also understand the task at hand. Do not overwhelm Streisand as a performer, do not understate yourself. Her choice of collaborators is broad enough to bring in all listeners. Those who like the classics are catered to with Paul McCartney and Bob Dylan, those who want contemporary flourishes have the choice of Laufey, Ariana Grande, and Mariah Carey. Those who just want noise can listen to the Sam Smith collaboration, as hollow as their music so often is. The trouble Smith has here is that their voice sticks to the squeaky-clean, chart-friendly style. There is no character behind it, no flicker of humanity in there, which defines the rest of the artists on this release. To Lose You Again sounds like Disney album fodder.
The Secret of Life: Partners Volume Two picks up from there, though. Dylan’s feature on The Very Thought of You has the veteran songwriter perform with the same crooner-like quality he brought out on Shadows in the Night. That gruff tone complements the clarity Streisand performs with wonderfully, creating a real highlight for this album. What The Secret of Life: Partners Volume Two offers best of all is the balance between the collaborator and the star. Streisand can still hold her own as a solo artist, but like Dolly Parton and Elton John, finds more interest in the collaborative process. Her Laufey collaboration, Letter to My 13-Year-Old Self, is delightful. That cheery, teary-eyed reflection on how far Streisand has come. Expecting the emotional pay-off does not always weaken the result. The Carey and Grande feature is a tad hollow, but One Heart, One Voice gets the job done. It gives Streisand a clearer connection to the modern-day musical powers.
Vocally impressive moments trump the emotive impact often enough to warrant giving The Secret of Life: Partners Volume Two a listen. Some of the emotional forms taken here are a tad redundant. One Heart, One Voice implies the loss of individualism when a loved one enters the picture. Many of the songs featured are neat examples of how vocal greats can complement one another. It is through tried and tested performances alone, hours of work put in to finding the right octave or tone for a collaborative piece. Extremely easy-going tracks are on show for The Secret of Life: Partners Volume Two. But as Streisand and James Taylor note on Secret O Life, we may as well enjoy the ride. It is hard not to enjoy the easy listening stylings here, the breezy sound of lounge-like music. Shallow waters can often be the coolest, and the likeable, consistent tone found on The Secret of Life: Partners Volume Two, is a real treat.
