Nao - February 15 EP

Nao
February 15 EP
2015

In the late 1990's early 2000's neo-soul was a pipe dream, an homage to a bygone era when music was filled with heart yet you could move to it. This movement was grounded in the modern using all of the tools that were now available but still held on to the full sound of the past. That way of thinking has taken a backseat and never really caught like wildfire, but no one told the british artist Nao. The February 15 EP is the progression of the neo-soul movement that never happened. It is funky, soulful, sassy and all those other delightful things that come from funk and soul played at its highest level. The difference with the February 15 EP is that it is completely modern, there is no sense of this record being dated or relying to much on the past. Instead Nao blazes her own trail with deep funk rhythms that get your feet moving and impeccable altered singing.

"Inhale Exhale" and "Zillionaire" are clearly the to most classically funk tracks, but Nao shows her R&B chops as well on "It's You" and "Apple Cherry". The music is clean, smooth and subtle just the right amount of what you want without overpowering you on some Jazz funk odyssey. Really a great album and worth a listen.

7 out of 10