Indian Ocean

Recorded in Memphis with the Hodges brothers—the core of the legendary Hi Rhythm Section, which backed Al Green and others in the \'70s—*Indian Ocean* embraces its nostalgia without getting mired in it. The relaxed, old-school soul of the music blends naturally with Frazey Ford’s honeyed vibrato tone and distinct phrasing. Her second solo release is removed from the country-folk of her former band, The Be Good Tanyas, yet taps the same mix of sweetness and melancholy, especially the gorgeous “September Fields” and “Runnin” and the transcendent, utterly charming title track.

The second solo long-player from the Canadian folk-pop songstress and former Be Good Tanya, Indian Ocean finds Frazey Ford enlisting the help of the legendary Hi Rhythm Section, who were Al Green's not-so-secret weapons and the prime architects of the Memphis soul sound during the Stax era, and kicking out a warm, breezy, and not surprisingly soulful set of R&B-kissed country-pop confections that sound as timeless as they do of a particular era.

The former Be Good Tanyas singer channels Al Green for this gem of a solo album, writes <strong>Kitty Empire </strong>