Nikko Gray began making waves in 2009 with her cover of Aaliyah’s classic “4 Page Letter” with the enormously talented Afta-1. The buzz has been building since then, reaching a fever pitch with Nikko and Afta-1’s brilliant performance at Strictly Social in early 2010. With Love Seen, Nikko Gray’s first full album, we get the experience the full spectrum of her future soul sound. Resting somewhere between the playfulness of Little Dragon and the adventurousness of J*Davey, Love Seen is a remarkable introduction to an artist that is sure to be garnering plenty of attention in the future.
With just eight tracks, Love Seen is probably more of an EP but it feels like an album’s worth of material. Nikko has a smooth and sexy voice that fits in perfectly with the futuristic productions by Nevin Thomas, but she can also belt with the best of them. The album is centered around a slinky, head-nodding sound that is on display on standout tracks like “Nail Polish”, “Eyelash Wishes” and the experimental “Hello.” These tracks have a futuristic bump that cannot be denied and Nikko’s delivery meshes perfectly into the soundscapes. But Nikko is also diverse enough to include some rather powerful ballads on her album. Foremost of these is the seductive and cinematic “Love Scene”, which finds Nikko is full bloom. She doesn’t hold back on this track, letting the full force of her voice shine through. Equally impressive is the gorgeous “Love Shield” with its layered vocals and soaring melodies. Drawing inspiration from both the greats and her contemporaries, Nikko Gray has managed to put together a piece of work that is fresh, vibrant and an instant classic.
- Norman Mayers
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