Fort Worth, Texas singer/songwriter Nuwamba has received a heap of praise for his new debut album, Above the Water, and it is deserved. With elements of Marvin Gaye and Maxwell, along with a healthy dose of originality, he moves through a number of musical styles, including nice elements of acoustic soul (the excellent, jazz “Savior”), moody Kem-like ballads (“All Mine”) and solid neo-soul (“Forever,” “Above the Water”). The arrangements are clever throughout, with use of unusual percussion and horns that make this far more than a run-of-the-mill neo-soul album. It’s a fine first shot from a talented newcomer who we’ll be hearing about for awhile.
By Chris Rizik
