Carmen Nickerson – Carmen
(US Da Soul, 2006)
I Wonder – Senseless – Hurt So Bad – I See The Light – Temptation Eyes – Different Time / Different Place – I’ll Try Something New – Miss You Like Crazy – That’s A Good Thing – Time For You To Go – Too Good For You – Need Someone
This has to be one of the best sets to come out of the excellent Da Soul stable. This lovely
Lady has a fantastic voice that is smooth and velvety, and when added to the style of creativity
that belongs to producers J and Chazz Dixon we have a set that is tighter than the
clasp of a
Scotsman’s purse. "Carmen" as an album jogs away at an extremely jaunty pace and one can read
enough beneath the grooves that Carmen was actually having a whale of a time putting this set
together. This Lady should blossom well within this label, and if this album is her foundation
then it really is a strong one.
Some of the grooves have an 80s Indie feel to them, and I love
this as it whisks me back to the days of 12"s from Choice Reunion and David Beck.
The opening song, for instance is called "That’s A Good Thing", and the feeling for me is
Midnight Star
meets Muscle Shoals. The unmistakable Chazz Dixon adds his vocal skills, and J is ever
present
on the mix. "I Wonder" is a more uptempo funkier piece, the spaced out synth and bombastic hi
hat drum beat do well with Carmen’s, fresh, summery spangly guitar in support. Carmen handles
this sort of groove very nicely indeed, thank you very much, but she excels on the excellent
"Different Time, Different Place" which has an 80s summertime ebb and flow with a dash of
Isleys for good measure. I simply adore the fender keys that underscore the clapping beat
and flutework that pops up 3 minutes in, acting as an irresistible bridge to some dreamy
guitar and vocal work from Carmen.
The melody to "Time For You To Go" is altogether pleasing and is designed to suit Carmen perfectly.
Carmen hits a sassier, jazzier note on the beaty "Miss You Like Crazy" and adds another dimension
to her singing. "Too Good For You" serves as a warning to complacent males out there in a
relationship – that probably translates as 99.9 percent of all men, but there you go!
Carmen reminds us menfolk should get more involved and stop neglecting our women folk.
I suppose I had better wash up tonight then L . "I See The Light" is a cool groove as you
could wish for and is more romantic than the poor situation described in the previous song.
The backing vocals on this song really are lovely and are attributable to the excellent
Gary Brown (his "2" album review coming soon.) "Senseless" is a bouncy tune with
plenty of cymbal work with some sexy smooth vocals to boot. Chazz Dixon has, as we know,
had an excellent and original take on many a Motown tune from his own albums, and he works
his magic on Smokey’s "I’ll Try Something New" which is a very fine duet.
As far as debut albums go this is worthwhile and CD Baby is the place to check it out.
The first of many albums, one hopes.
- Barry Towler
