Review: Femi - 'Sweet Water Soul'

Oakland-based singer Femi shouldn't be confused with Afrobeat artist Femi Kuti or the singer Olu Femi, but she does does have a few things in common with the other two artists: a musical worldliness, a deep spirituality, a willingness to experiment with different sounds and the strength to march to the beat of a different drummer than everyone else. And on her debut EP, Sweet Water Soul, released in the U.S. on Sept. 23, 2008, Femi incorporates R&B, Soul, Jazz, Caribbean influences, and even some Hip-Hop into her lush, organic style of music. This coupled with her laid-back, relaxing vocals, are a nice combination.

Listening to the first song on Sweet Water Soul, "Sweet Water," is like easing into a warm bath in a room filled with pleasant fragrances - its instant relaxation. From the soft percussion to the jazzy flute to Femi's soft, steady vocals, the song completely exudes good vibes. The good feelings continue on the EP's other five songs, with standout tracks being the reggae-influenced surrendering-to-love song "If I Knew," an upbeat track that boasts use of a horn section, ala old-school Earth, Wind & Fire; and "Pages," a hand percussion-driven song about, among other things, self-reflection, self-reliance and being emotionally free.

This is the type of album that you'd want to listen to after a hard day at work; it's got slow, steady beats throughout, plus smooth, relaxing vocals and pleasant, enjoyable subjects, mainly love. The album however, leans more toward smooth Jazz, and one song, "I Want You," is basically a standard Jazz number. So if you're an R&B purist or don't like mixing and matching music genres, this isn't the album for you. However, if you like a little musical experimentation and are looking for some new sexy, sophisticated grooves to add to your collection, Femi's Sweet Water Soul might be just what you need.