Remi Nicole: My Conscience and I
Remi Nicole: Her conscience is clear.
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Monday, 26, Nov 2007 11:13
Island Records, out December 3rd.
In a nutshell...
A lacklustre Nash/Allen wannabe.
What's it all about?
Thanks, in part, to MySpace, Remi Nicole hooked up with producer Johnny Douglas and later with Tony Hoffer to put together debut album My Conscience And I.
The LP consists of 12 guitar-edged and nu-jazz tracks from the outspoken newcomer, who says: "Everyone who sees me says 'Do you sing R 'N' B?' It just shows that there aren't enough people out there who are breaking down barriers."
Who's it by
Remi Nicole is a 24-year-old female singer-songwriter from north London who is part of an emerging generation intent on challenging stereotypes, and her album is awash with a blend of early 80s-styled pop punchiness, honesty and humour.
She had planned to be an actor, studying at Birmingham School of Speech and Drama. However, she returned to London and her material fell into the hands of Lily Allen's producers.
As an example…
"When everything was A-okay/Oh yeah, those new old days." – New Old Days
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
Not with this album although if she catches people's attention when the Brits roll around then perhaps that will pique Grammy curiosity at a later stage.
What the others say
"If you don't think you can take any more gorblimey, Cock-er-nee female singer/songwriters, then look away now." – Guardian Unlimited
"Hot on the heels of Lily Allen and Kate Nash, there's another girl on the street ready to get you hot-stepping around your bedrooms." – Digital Spy
So is it any good?
At first listen, you get an annoying Lily Allen/Kate Nash clone singing self-absorbed banalities in de rigueur Mockney tones.
With a second listen, you still get this but there's a couple of nuggets among the pervasive dross, such as the mellow singlaong quality of Right Side Of Me and the humourous snipes at our celeb-obsessed culture with Tabloid Queen.
However, the rest of the LP offers up a turgid diet of nasal singing, workmanlike guitar and 'poor little me' whingeing on utterly forgettable numbers like Soul Back and Fed Up.
Current single, Rock 'N' Roll, sees Nicole attempting to rock out but she opts out preferring to be Kate Nash's stroppy flatmate before pointlessly imitating Lily Allen with New Old Days - referencing an 80s/90s childhood.
3/10
Lee Davis