It’s been a long time between drinks since my last album review, but if there was a record to lull me out of my slumber, Noel Nderitu’s fantastic ‘My Kind of Music’ debut must be it. Smooth. Sultry. Delightful.
He calls it an EP. I disagree. Your regular Extended Play release would typically have about 4 songs. At eight songs, Noel has his first fully fledged album, albeit abbreviated. And what an album. My Kind of Music is what happens when the worlds of an urban psalmist and worshiper collide with a neo-soul singer clutching his acoustic guitar. With an innocence to his vocal, a sincerity to his song-writing, and an ease to his delivery, Noel Nderitu has crafted a very attractive listen. But let’s dig in.
‘My Kind of Music’ is helmed by “Love“, a mellow radio-ready single that, with a few lyrical edits, could have easily found its way onto a mainstream r&b album. Yet it’s clear what love he is talking about. Jesus. Tetu Shani adds some sweet percussion on the single’s acoustic version.
Lisa Oduor-Noah steps in on ‘Teach Me Your Ways’, lending a Lisa McClendon-esque vocal to this beautiful heartfelt prayer. An easily relatable mid-tempo cut, it tells the story of one grappling with their shortcomings yet still seeking after God. Peep the great song-writing – “I know I am yours, but I still sin, i still stumble / Like the player with the ball at crunch time but all he does is fumble / Lord can you help me, ’cause I know you hear me”.
As comfortable as he is with r&b and neo-soul, Noel showcases dexterity on the irresistibly head-bobbing “Brand Nu“, the hip-hop laced, feel good jam of the record. First featured on Rigga‘s Freedom Mixtape, it feels like a throwback to the early work of Gospel Gangstaz’ Mr. Solo. Hip-hop head or not, his super clean flow, more Too $hort than Lil Wayne, will grab you by your boot straps and get you jamming. And speaking of throwbacks, “Go” sounds like it could slot in effortlessly onto Canton Jones‘ debut record ‘20 years, 3 months, 12 days‘.
Other cuts on the record include ‘Have Your Way’ and ‘I Surrender‘. If Hollywood made a movie and chose to extrapolate the Prodigal Son’s story after the homecoming party, the former would make the soundtrack. The latter features a clever rendition of popular worship chorus “I Surrender All“.
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ALL UP, there’s hardly a forgettable moment on this great debut. However if I was to be nitpicky, the only downside would be found not in Noel’s great songwriting or fantastic delivery, but more in the inherent nature of the new soul genre – a genre that can sometimes feel dated and stuck in a time warp. Pick up a Lisa McClendon or Spiritual Pieces album from ten years ago and you’ll struggle to tell it apart from it’s present day contemporary. One would argue the flip side could be that it makes for timeless music.
There’s word that Noel is working on new material. Exciting! But why wait another moment? The good folk at Waabeh have made it super easy for you to own your copy of Noel’s ‘My Kind of Music’ (also iTunes).
I could bet you you’ll discover it to be your kind of music too.