Sonya Heller ***

Fourth Floor

(Mosaic Music)

Atmosphere

Smooth operator! For those who might long for Sade, the beautiful “Metisse” of the 80’s, here come again those ethereal atmospheres, New York style, but with much less of  a “radio” orientation.  Polished work for the album from Sonya Heller, a key member of such Big Apple clubs as the Bitter end or the Knitting factory, which are true breeding grounds for talent and songwriters.  Her soft and fragile music is just as welcome “coast to coast” outside New York  and in most festivals of the genre.  A delicate balance of folk and jazz envelops Sonya’s voice, which fits well with the spirit of the music without breaking any rules.  A welcome respite from excess!  Don’t look here for strident electric music, insidious super bass, or over-vitamined tempos.  It’s a return instead to a timeless New York, away from fads, textures of brick loft and Mexican carpet.  One thinks of course of Joni Mitchell (beautiful drums), of Carole King with a Latino flavor, or Ricky Lee Jones for the graceful and fresh arranging with a strong acoustic tendency.  You get in a groove as titles follow in the warm glow of the album’s sound.  The niche for “new feminine voices” is overcrowded and full of great talent.  But far from the crowded channels with FM sound, Sonya easily takes her place in the “family”.  As electric orgies threaten to saturate our ear-drums … it can be salutary to have this kind of album at hand.

To be kept near a bottle of Malibu…