Amel Larrieux
Bravebird

THE REVIEW

Let's go back to the somewhat more recent past, precisely to 2004.

I want to introduce you to one of my contemporary female voices, an artist unknown to the masses: Amel Larrieux.

Born Amel Stowell, endowed with charm as well as talent, after debuting with the Groove Theory project in '95 and the commendable solo debut "Infinite Possibilities" (2000), in 2004 she released her second album "Bravebird". This work, compared to its predecessor, is more varied and at times winks at ethnic and folk.

This artist's vocal skill emerges in the atmospheric For Real and in the funk-r&b of Congo, both embellished with impeccable choruses and trills. Folk atmospheres in the disillusioned Sacred, where Amel expresses her discontent towards the ills of today's society, while All I Got amazes with its suggestive mood and optimistic lyrics. Unmissable are also the funk-jazz of Say You Want It All, with a lively brass section, and the soft-soul of We Can Be New.

"Bravebird" is an album that can enchant those who already appreciate artists like Erykah Badu, Meshell Ndegèocello, or Sade as well as fans of new sounds.

In an era like the 2000s, dominated by glossy productions and violent, misogynistic hip-hop, Amel Larrieux stands out for her class and her magical, velvety vocals reminiscent of great soul-singers of the past as well as for profound songs, intimate but never rhetorical or sentimental.