Dez Mona - Origin (2015)

Named after Othello's wife in Shakespeare's tragedy, Belgian outfit Dez Mona combine jazz, gospel, classical, and French chansons to produce a sound that's been compared to the likes of Nina Simone, Antony & the Johnsons, and Tom Waits. Formed in 2003 by vocalist Gregory Frateur and bassist Nicolas Rombouts, they recorded their 2005 debut album, Pursued Sinners, in a church before adding pianist Bram Weijters and drummer Steven Cassiers to their line-up for their 2007 sophomore effort, Moments of Dejection or Despondency. In 2009, they recruited Talk Talk bassist Paul Webb to produce their third studio effort, Hilfe Kommt. Saga was released in 2011, followed by Dez Mona's fifth studio album, A Gentleman's Agreement, which arrived in 2012. ~ Jon O'Brien