Just when you thought the music tap had run dry, Australian singer/songwriter/poet, Candice Monique and The Optics burst onto the scene with their new album, In My Soul.
It is a gem that doesn’t snugly fit into one genre, but rather dips a toe into everything from Jazz to Blues to Funk to a little bit of Soul; and new, unique rhythms are flowing heavily once again.
There’s no better place to start than in the beginning, with the title track, “In My Soul”. It’s smoothness, and the slow-tempo groove is a perfect fit for Monique, whose background as a poet shows in her unique vocal delivery. She even adds a small dose of rap to her harmonies on the track, “Revolution,” though it’s anything but gimmicky. Besides being a tasteful exhibition of her skill, the shift in technique allows her to clearly convey a message, and as also shown in “Hypothetical,” her lyrics are not frivolous.
The element that separates Candice Monique from other artists is probably her talented five-piece band, The Optics. Guided by the production of Rich Medina, they lay the perfect sound with a funky guitar and electric keys over hypnotic drums, laden with shakers and rim-shots, that just melt into your sub-conscious. Of course, all of this is served on a bed of humming Jazz bass, which is the prominent feature on the track, “Wish I Was A Bass.” If you need a ballad, try “For All Time,” and if you feel like dancing, “Feel The Vibe.” If you just want to listen to an overall great album, then put on In My Soul. Candice Monique is the type of well-rounded artist that music needs to survive, and one that will probably be here for a while.
Related posts:
- DM & Sparklehorse – Dark Night Of The Soul
- Review: The Stone Foxes – Bears & Bulls
- Review: Ernie Halter – Franklin & Vermont
Sorry for the error (regarding Medina), Candace
That’s surprising, because I sensed a similarity in certain tracks to his prior work, in a good way.lol Still, credit must be given to the right people. Choi did a wonderful job, but ultimately, it is your music which shines through. Great job on the album. We look forward to seeing more from you guys.
Hey Thanks so much for the glowing review, that’s beautiful! Just thought i should mention tho the album was produced by Choi, not Rich Medina. I worked with Rich in NYC in 05 so thats why hes in my bio but this album was a Choi Production
peace n bless and thank you so much for the review again, will be posting it!
Did not know much about Candice Monique but a friend recommended I check her out. After reading this review, I definitely will.
What a great site!