Given the egregious state of world affairs, who could argue with the sentiments of that album title? Featuring 12 classic love songs recorded by the US-born, London-based vocalist Stacey Kent during her years with the Candid label (1997-2004), the idea for this delightful anthology came when Kent sang the title track at the Théâtre des Champs Élysées in December 2015 – just a month after the Paris terror attacks. Aside from Bacharach and David's timeless pacifist anthem, there's a version of ‘He Loves and She Loves’ taken at a tempo – extremely slow – that would doubtless have Shirley Horn nodding in approval. The brilliant Gershwins are heard back to back, with Kent's heart-melting reading of ‘I've Got a Crush on You’. From a supremely understated ‘You've Got a Friend’ to a song which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, Cole Porter's ‘It's De-Lovely’, the compelling clarity of Kent's interpretations demonstrate her complete empathy with this repertoire. The collection features a stellar cast of players including pianist David Newton, whose solo in ‘My Heart Stood Still’ is a thing of beauty and wonder.