Michon Young: Love, Life, ExperiencesReviewed by Ismo TenkanenRating: 8/ 10Soul Express CD of the Season - Summer 2017
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1) Feeling Alright 2) So Glad 3) Count It a Lesson 4) Oooh 5) Something about You 6) Heart Led Me to You 7) Love on Me 8) Can't Do This No More 9) Undivided Attention 10) Colourless Tears 11) Let's Go Back 12) Love Makes You 13) Everyday The first time I heard Michon Young singing was on a UK radio show on the Internet in July 2016, and I was instantly impressed. It was a track titled Something about You, which was available at CD Baby and I downloaded the track and still rate it as the best soul track in 2016. I would describe this track as Impromp2 meets Anita Baker; the song contains superb trumpet soloing (played by T.L. Williams) plus a meaty bass line, over which Michon sings like Anita Baker or Phyllis Hyman during their heyday. If you think I'm exaggerating, just believe your own ears and listen to the YouTube clip below: Of course, I've been eagerly waiting for a new (her second) album from Michon ever since. It was finally released in April, but only in download format. Now the CD copies are finally available, although almost impossible to acquire for us European soul lovers, as the only distributor Ropeadope sells them on Amazon - but only to US citizens! Please contact us if you have troubles getting yourself a copy and we'll help! US readers can easily get a copy from Amazon, using the Amazon link above. 
I was delighted to note that Chris Wells of Echoes Magazine interviewed Michon as soon as the album was out,
and placed Michon on the front cover of Echoes. Chis started his introducion of Michon by stating that "No two ways
about it, Michon Young sounds a lot like Anita Baker. Not all the time, sure, and never to the point where it feels
it's merely an imitation - yet the influence is - pleasingly - there, nonetheless."
Indeed, Michon has the Anita flavour in her deep and mature voice, yet her music is more "up-to-date" and closer to Impromp2 type of meaty soul & funk, based on real instruments. What is the best thing on the new album, even the most modern cuts are more than tasteful, building an instant, compelling groove by superb musicians, the melodies are ALL new and of a very high standard - and yes, there are string of extremely soulful ballads for those who were hungry for her moody ballad interpretations in the Anita mode. However, I hasten to add that the album is not a retro-soul album sounding something that was recorded 20-40 years ago, instead it sounds very fresh - but this is the type of music I would love Anita Baker to record today - if she were active again! Maybe the funkiest cuts like the glorious bass-driven swayer Count It a Lesson is something Anita would never had recorded - but I just love this robust funk sound behind Michon wonderful vocals. One of the best tunes I've heard this year! The most obvious Anita Baker -influenced ballad on the album is a tune entitled Love on Me, which Chris Wells already compared to The Best Thing Yet, and I'm sure the devoted Baker fans would also love tracks like Colorless Tears, Love on Me, Everyday and Love Makes You, although the musical setting on those tunes is not even close to the mid-80s sounds of The Rapture period. A strong contender for the album of the year in 2017. The Latest CD Reviews Albums of the Month in 2011 Albums of the Month in 2010 Albums of the Month in 2009 Albums of the Month in 2008 |
