Kandace Springs - Indigo, the long awaited sequel to Soul Eyes
Oh well, the title of this OP is misleading as Indigo would not be considered a sequel. This is Springs carving out a style to set herself apart. Let's face it there is a rich stable of young female songstresses. Krall, Jones, Souza, Mardot and numerous others are well known to many.
I first learned of Kandace thanks to an Audiogoner. Thanks again! I've had her first offering, "Soul Eyes" on CD for months and I don't think I've yet to place it in the CD rack. I just keep wanting to listen to it. Soul Eyes has a "sound" not unlike most of the aforementioned ladies. Indigo is stylistically more diverse. In that sense it is interesting for its production values. The engineering of each song has its own sound. Some cuts have a healthy and effective use of reverb where others are more matter of fact and dry.
Instincts are one quality that most successful people follow to positive outcomes. "Soul Eyes" is great for the bluesy jazz album that it is with very tastefully written melodies and mature lyrics. "Indigo" is a collection of songs of very different musical styles and they all seem to work. Good instincts! The song "Love Sucks" starts off with an instrumental sound like the famous dance scene from "Pulp Fiction" with Travolta and Thurman dancing at Jack Rabbit Slims. Fun stuff. Kandace has musical flex. Roberta Flacks iconic "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" is performed as straight as an arrow. No pretense. She just sings it beautifully not trying to recreate it, but rather to honor it.
I'm gonna keep loving "Soul Eyes" but "Indigo" is sticking around and will be in residence on my turntable for a while as I continue to appreciate it fully.
Lest I forget, both albums on Blue Note are lovingly recorded. "Soul Eyes" is a bit thicker sounding instrumentally whereas "Indigo" is more open and sparser. Again, both work. Enjoy!
OP - correction. Gardot not Mardot. ugh Sorry Melody!
Just listening again to "Soul Eyes" minutes after posting the OP above. Soul Eyes is more of a conventional sultry jazz record. Her vocals are upfront, intimate even. She proves her vocal talent here. Boy is she ever on the note. I hate singers who lose the note. I was practically driven crazy in college as Hall and Oates were all the rage and those guys were NEVER on key. Hated that!
If you haven’t heard her before, the tunefulness and consistency of "Soul Eyes" may be the place to start and then branch out to "Indigo". Give her a listen. You will be musically and soulfully richer for it.
@mental So glad you are enjoying Kandace. If you don't already have exposure to her, Melody Gardot!! If you want to try her music out I would suggest "My One and Only Thrill". Get the UK 2CD special edition. I now have all of her albums. Love each one. The reason for the UK is getting the studio disc along with another CD with several tracks recorded live in Paris. Great recordings of a uniquely beautiful singer.
Her back story is amazing. She was riding a bike in her home town of Philly and was hit by a driver. She was in the hospital for over a year and indulged in music as therapy. She has permanent brain damage in the form of photosensitivity. Every picture you are likely to see of her she will be wearing shades. I believe she still uses a cane to assist in walking.
I know you don't listen to her story but I find it compelling nonetheless. As you work through her albums from "Worrisome Heart" up to the present, you can hear her develop as an artist becoming more experimental along the way.
If you want to go to the ultimate, I believe "My One and Only Thrill" is available on a 45 rpm LP.
@mental So happy you are enjoying Melody. I have everyone of her albums and like each one. "Worrisome Heart", her debut release is the straightest bluesy jazz of the bunch. After the sophomore "My One and Only Thrill" her releases get a little more experimental as she creates an album-like identity to each one. All fine albums!
If you are looking for another interesting lady vocalist, you might want to give Karen Souza a try. She has a real sultry approach to her vocals. I would recommend "The Complete Collection". It is a three CD release. The first disc is all covers of famous songs. Nobody is out of bounds on that disc. She takes on Strawberry Fields, Billie Jean, Tainted Love etc. She is very different. I really enjoy listening to her when I'm in the mood for something different. Think of it this way...she has unique approaches to songs much in the same way as Patricia Barber.
If you are not into her yet I'd give her a shot first. You might start with "Cafe Blue" the "unmastered" version on SACD if you do SACD. (This is one of the best discs I have for sonics - First frickin' rate!). If not the CD of Cafe Blue should be great.
Thanks for reminding of Kandace, HiFiman. I've owned and enjoyed Soul Eyes for a while but had forgotten about her until your post. Indigo arrived today and it's a definite step up from Soul Eyes. Thanks again for the heads up.
@mac48025. Glad you are enjoying Kandace. I still prefer "Soul Eyes" to "Indigo" overall. However, I totally loved Soul Eyes from the get go but I'm enjoying Indigo more with each listen.
Thanks for mentioning the artists above. I am not familiar with any of them. To Amazon I go....🏃🏼♂️
Nice hifiman5! I think you'll really enjoy Imelda. Her other albums are more rock, this one is a departure from her other stuff. Btw, I too have every Gardot album......great stuff.
I like both of Kandaces albums but think I like Indigo a bit better because it's not as it's not quite as mainstream. It's all good though as any song she sings is good by me.
@mac48025. Wow! I am in your debt. Just finishing my second listen to Imelda May's "Life, Love, Flesh, Blood". I understand from what I've read about her, that this album is a stylistic departure for her. From what I'm hearing she is clearly on the right path.
These songs could easily find their way into a Quentin Tarantino movie soundtrack. They have a soulfulness. They are very personal. Each song reveals a different aspect of her views about life. Terrific lyrics, great poetry with genuineness.
The music is the perfect vehicle to communicate her message. Nice variety to the songs, but the album has a cohesive feel and sound to it. You can clearly hear T. Bone Burnett's influence in the production. BTW...she has a terrific voice with power and delicacy at the same time. WOW!
The cherry on top is the beautiful sound quality. Although lyrics are included, it is easy to follow the stories she tells. A+
Glad you like hifiman5, I figured you would. It's one of my faves.
Since you like that album so much you might want to check out Lydia Loveless 'Real'. Like Imelda her other albums have a much harder rock edge to them and while Real has some rock to it it's a complete departure from her other stuff. Very poignant lyrics, great melodies, great vocals and well recorded. Just thought I'd pass that along. Happy listening!
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