.:morphinne:.

Philly songstress CAROL RIDDICK is best known for her contribution for the Larry Gold project Larry Gold Presents Don Cello and Friends, a song called Loving You. She also sang a track Can You Come Over on Jeff Bradshaw’s Bone Deep album, wrote a song for Terry Ellis and was a backing vocalist for Kindred the Family Soul, Jill Scott, Anthony Hamilton and Musiq. Now she has released her debut album Moments Like This (US Axis, 2006), and the album features James Poyser as one of the producers.

Even though most of the aforementioned artists are typical neo-soul artists, Carol’s own music and style reminds me more of Lizz Wright. There is no hint of R&B anywhere, and nothing refers to neo-soul, either. Carol has a mature, strong voice that she uses in a way that is even a bit bluesy, bending and shaping the notes in a painfully moaning tone. The eleven-track CD is virtually an all-ballad set, and Carol has co-written all songs.

The individual songs seem to grow with each listen, but there are no instantly fascinating gems. Personally, I would have preferred more colour in the arrangements, but there are some trumpet lines featured on two tracks and Larry Gold provides the strings on another two cuts. As a personal favourite, I would pick a mellow James Poyser co-produced song titled Confused, and All I Wanna Be (Krystal’s Song) with Larry Gold strings is another fine composition. Flirtatious has a slight Latin tinge with Matt Cappy on trumpet.