Kyla Brox - Gone (2007)

Kyla Brox returns with another fine album. Her voice has been honed to a fine point and one wonders where next in her efforts to explore its limits? This is nowhere better exemplified than in the closing solo track where in the plaintive 'You Said You'd Be My Sunshine', she captures all the nuances and style of the Blues and jazz divas that have clearly influenced her. Brox was raised in Manchester in a highly musical family, and from very tender years sang in her father's Victor Brox Blues Train. From the time of meeting the equally talented Danny Blomeley her course was set, and this time around they have co-written all the tunes. This is both a strength and a weakness: a strength in the intensely personal nature of the lyrics, such as in the moving song of loss that is the title of the album; a weakness in that I miss the brilliant cover versions of earlier albums which almost inevitably brought life to the original. Thus my only criticism is that 11 tracks totalling 38 minutes surely left room for a couple of covers. However, the songs here are a heady brew of funk, jazz, acoustic Blues and a little rock, so the changes in shade and mood keeps one interested throughout. I love the invitational and acoustic 'Always Looking At Me', followed by the dancing and equally alluring 'Skin'. Instrumentally, a special mention must be made of Billy Buckley's sympathetic electric guitar work throughout, and Kyla as flautist in the gorgeous Sade-like 'One Step Too Far'. Kyla Brox has developed a maturity and power and yet delicacy to her vocal prowess, and does not abuse the vocal affectations or gymnastics, which so badly affect her peers. She is head and shoulders above the rest in the UK, and to anyone considering CDs by Amy Winehouse or Joss Stone, this I suggest is the real deal.