ERIKA DE CASIER Vinyl & CDs

Review: While many of today's biggest and most well-known r&b stars have got in-your-face bars and brash, confrontational personalities, Erika De Casier is a throwback to the quiet bedroom aesthetics of Aaliyah. Her tender, intimate vocal delivers convey power through their emotion as she muses on break ups, inner strength and general life woes. The beats are soft and moonlit with captivating melodies throughout. The Danish star is very much a cult favourite in the underground but this album might well help her break through to the next level.

Review: Erika De Casier has been on the Juno radar for a while. She is a Danish artist who has lent her voice to some killer dance cuts, but when in solo mode she is a new school neo-soul queen. Her vocal style is quiet and subtle, vulnerable and honest, and the music that is produced around it only heightens that sense of late night intrigue. This second album is one of tender sound and confessional songs, with closely mic'd whispers and softly spoken words defying most tracks. It's deep, richly rewarding and another fine accomplishment from this contemporary star.