Danielle Nicole – Fireflies
The soulfulness in this opener is traditionally old-school with the walking bassline, but Danielle Nicole infuses it with a propulsive personality & the female backup sweetens the deal on “Radical Love.” There are 11 twinkling lights in the distance on Fireflies (Drops Aug 28/Forty Below Records/48:31) produced by Tony Braunagel (drums/percussion) & recorded in Kansas City, MO.
The tunes are bluesy in moderate Genya Ravan, Brenda Patterson, & Bonnie Bramlett style (not quite Janis Joplin, Candy Givens, Bonnie Tyler, or Kim Carnes). But Danielle (bass/vocals) has a convergence of her own. Instead of a bluesy contagion, the tunes possess more soul sweetness. Featuring North Mississippi Allstars’ Luther Dickinson, “Take Me Back” has a cool predatory beat, saloon-tempered piano notes, wrestling lead guitars in a heated solo & a searing Danielle vocal performance.
It’s ambitious in how this collection captures the early ‘60s female balladry style & soulful dose of Mary Wells or Gloria Lynne on “Memories.” Nice Stax studio warmth & tenderness. “When I gave you the space to make up your mind…” is a superb lyric. Danielle has a good range & inhales deep draughts of melody on this soulfully swept-up tune.
This is Danielle’s 4th solo LP & isn’t without her Muscle Shoals/Motown confluences. What’s appealing is her occasional juvenile vocal tint, which adds the necessary innocence & sincerity on “Souldside.” Tagged with the steepled sound of a Steve Cropper-type guitar & Booker T. Jones organ, the song is a distillation of the finest R&B deliveries in the early 60s. Ms. Nicole manages to embellish it nicely with her own savory style. The close-out powerhouse “Fireflies” has the same rich, oldie melodic chart-infectious groove & a few Dinah Washington vocal uppercuts.
A rockier/soulful Danielle sharpens her vocal knives on “Gaslight.” A thicket of lead guitar notes bridges the tune before the female backup adds their soulful stew. There’s a Sly & the Family Stone instrumentality textured with a Gloria Lynne vocal (“I Wish You Love”) on “The Same Love That Made Me Laugh.” Driving beat, hosed down with a controlled funkiness. Adds just enough soulfulness.
The foray into a more mainstream balladry isn’t convincing. Danielle isn’t Diana Krall or Natalie Cole. Not yet. Her blusier soulful side is dominant. The easy listening “Chameleon” doesn’t have the emulsion. It has possibilities, but it doesn’t fit the lounge jazz genre yet. However, “Tug of War” is submerged in a Muscle Shoals sound. A Steve Cropper guitar tone done with expertise, along with Danielle’s gravitas voice & backup singers, has lots of soulful endowment. The showcase is diversified enough to be an interesting, consistent listen. R&B radio & soul stations should soak up this.
Highlights – “Radical Love,” “Take Me Back,” “Memories,” “Souldside,” “Gaslight,” “The Same Love That Made Me Laugh,” “Tug of War,” & “Fireflies.”
Musicians – Brandon Miller (guitars/vocals), Jim Pugh (all keys) with Melody Perry & Maxayne Moriguchi (bgv).
CD @ Apple & https://fortybelowrecords.com/store-bu6al/p/fireflies-danielle-nicole & https://daniellenicolemusic.com/home