Winter is winter, so it’s not much of a surprise that we’re in the midst of a cold snap here in central North Carolina, with overnight temps in the teens and the daytime highs predicted to—at best—double them. Thankfully, Introducing Emilia Sisco is emitting much warmth here in my den. Released in early December, it’s a soulful treat that harkens back to the jazzy R&B of the early 1970s, when the grooves were simultaneously taut and loose. Yet, for all its retro charm, there’s also a modern flourish to the music.
The Helsinki-born singer, who’s of Finnish-Zambian stock, weaves and wraps her distinctive vocals around the lyrics, while Cold Diamond & Mink—the house band for Timmion Records—offer perfect support throughout. The rhythms rise and fall, horns flow in and out, and the melodies float forth as if carried by a sea breeze.
The 10-track set opens with “Say Yes,” a spacious jam that champions positivity, while the aching “Your Girl” finds Sisco yearning for someone who doesn’t see her the way she sees him: “If I was your sky and I was your sea/You’d be the land under my feet/If I was your world I’d constantly/Give you the weather that you’d need.”
“Love So Divine” echoes the ages; you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a long-lost 45 found at the back of the Stax Records’ vault. “Certainly,” about love losing its luster, continues the old-school sound—and channels B.B. King’s “The Thrill Is Gone” along the way. “Turn Up,” on the other hand, finds her admitting to a love-and-hate relationship she has with her heart: “When I fall in love, I fall too hard,” she sings, confessing a little later that “I think I become someone I don’t want to be.” As on other songs, she provides her own background vocals; they’re layered and soft as feathers. The tear-stained “Too Late” jumps to a relationship’s end, when regrets and what-could-have-beens cause the heart to ache.
“Don’t Be Nobody,” on the other hand, finds her offering comfort and support to someone who’s been put down. It could be a song to and for herself or a hurting friend; whichever, it’s a reminder that everyone has value. “In These Binds” is an act of visualization and a declaration of purpose: “I gotta sing out loud/Let my soul catch fire and my heart run wild/Have a dream and let it unfold into real life.” (Side note: the backing vocals are to die for, while a muted horn is a moody delight.) “Worth the Ride,” on the other hand, veers back to matters of the heart. “Secretly” ends things on another Stax-like note.
In short, for folks who enjoy retro-grooves with a little grit, Introducing Emilia Sisco shouldn’t be missed.
The Old Grey Cat 