Nicholas Howard
God is in the City
Belief and Hustle Records

Nicholas Howard calls his music Urban Soul and it seems to fit. It's all very soulful and thankfully in an original way. The singer's voice is sensuous and deeply moving. The opening title track is an ode to belief and worldlier concerns and all what that entails. "My Hands Are Rough" is an up-tempo Latin number with a gritty lyric about the need for escaping a little bit after a hard day's work.

"Scotch On Her Lips" is filled with genuine longing and shows Howard to be a stylish soul singer. I was reminded just a teeny bit of Curtis Mayfield. "Mother" is socially conscious in the way of the great seventies soul icons. Howard's his own man and avoids easy clichés in his song. His delivery is moving and right on the money. It's an impressive debut all told.

Copyright © 2009 Anna Maria Stjärnell