Virginia-bred and California-based Stephanie Nicole's 2013 debut EP, Voices, hinted at an artist intent on pushing soul into the most avant-garde territory. The comparisons to Erykah Badu were hard to avoid, but on her long-awaited debut, Soulutionary One, the classically trained Nicole establishes herself as a significant figure in her own right. It would be disingenuous to classify the broad ranging and often new age-flavoured music here (co-written and co-produced with Craig Perkins, aka Classroom Craig) as mere "neo-soul."
Opener "Diligence" sets an ominous vibe with its allusions to corruption and government surveillance, yet it smartly avoids any traces of didacticism, and when Nicole declares that "solidarity is a must" with her determined and ample voice, it's a stirring call to resiliency both musical and political. Tracks like the spiritual, inward-looking Eastern pulse of "Maha Meditation" the reggae bouncer "Cartographic College," the yearning acoustic folk-soul of "Just Love Her" and the dynamic kiss-off of "Now You're Here" are especially potent examples of Nicole's freewheeling and, at times, challenging eclecticism. It takes a few spins to fully absorb, but Soulutionary One is an impressive effort that makes one eager with anticipation for Stephanie Nicole's future.
(BBE)Opener "Diligence" sets an ominous vibe with its allusions to corruption and government surveillance, yet it smartly avoids any traces of didacticism, and when Nicole declares that "solidarity is a must" with her determined and ample voice, it's a stirring call to resiliency both musical and political. Tracks like the spiritual, inward-looking Eastern pulse of "Maha Meditation" the reggae bouncer "Cartographic College," the yearning acoustic folk-soul of "Just Love Her" and the dynamic kiss-off of "Now You're Here" are especially potent examples of Nicole's freewheeling and, at times, challenging eclecticism. It takes a few spins to fully absorb, but Soulutionary One is an impressive effort that makes one eager with anticipation for Stephanie Nicole's future.
