Tanika Charles
Papillon de Nuit: The Night Butterfly
Record Kicks
Buy via Bandcamp | Listen Below
Canadian singer-songwriter Tanika Charles returns with her third album on Record Kicks and a noticeable change in the musical accompaniment she shines alongside. Her first two albums, Soul Run (2017) and The Gumption (2019), were broadly characterized by retro-fitted soul with modern production values. But closer inspection revealed a willingness to divert from the formula from time to time.
Her excellent third album, Papillon De Nuit: The Night Butterfly, finds the formula extended again into different realms of soul music, but the constant throughout is the controlled beauty of Charles’ voice that fits perfectly regardless of the backing. It is performed with such assurance that it is hard to square it with the artist revealed to be suffering from imposter syndrome in my recent interview with her.
Exploring new textures and sounds doesn’t mean Charles leaves the base of her first two albums behind entirely—the album is closed by two songs that bear the hallmarks of retro soul. “Paintbrush and a Palette” is a loose-limbed, entertaining slice of funky soul that is illuminated by Charles’ spoken word “rap” in the style of Louis Jordan’s “Caldonia” and features the cheekily charming line “What’s your Pantone, handsome” and “Honey Baby” is a duet with long-time collaborator and friend Khari McClellan that is as sweet and wholesome as apple pie.
The other ten songs offer interesting variations on her core sound. In particular, “Frustrated” and “Different Morning” offer a more contemporary feel with basslines suited to cocktail bars and slinky lounges. “Frustrated” lingers long in the memory thanks to its naggingly catchy chorus, restrained horns and winning backing vocals. “Different Morning” is just as memorable with its two-stepping dance floor friendly beat, sparkling keys and suitably laid-back rap from rising Toronto star DijahSB.
A late-night bluesy feel comes courtesy of “Don’t Be So Entitled,” while the sliding doors bittersweet sentiment of “Gin and Wine” is a delightful slice of understated Motown-esque pop music with the entirely relatable chorus: “She’s making all the moves / I wish they were mine / She’s getting all the looks I’ve always desired / Somewhere between the gin and the wine.”
The title track with its warm Rhodes and sparser production is a neo-soul production that could quite easily come from a Jill Scott album and represents another string to Charles’ already powerful bow. The same atmosphere is created again on “Love Don’t Mean A Thing” thanks to its keys, before a warm embrace of backing vocals add a more luxurious feel to things this time ‘round.
All of which combines to create an album replete with subtle shades and variations of soul music that further expand Charles’ musical remit. As well as her pliable, expressive voice, her lyrics have a direct, relatable quality that connect easily, contributing to the charm and appeal of the album. Hopefully the success of this album will add fuel to Charles’ fire and give her the confidence she needs to fly freer and unburdened by self-doubt.
Notable Tracks: “Don’t Be So Entitled” | “Frustrated” | “Gin And Wine” | “Papillon de Nuit”
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