Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
It may not happen often, but sometimes you come across an album that once you have heard it you realise what an honour, a rare privilege, it was to have taken the C.D. out of the plastic cage and set it free to sing and flourish.
Out of the Black by the sensational Tiki Black may have been released in 2013 but when you find an album of such pure quality which contains a voice which seems to get more beautiful the more you let the C.D. play along its merry way and the haunting performance of the collection of musicians that contribute to such a stirring debut.
The deep resonance of a woman who is letting every single emotion, the almost physical progression of going from untold treasure of the muted voice to the absolute richness found throughout ten superbly crafted songs. Songs that take the pressure of existence that has been denied to the absolute outpouring of something genuinely filled with class. Throughout the whole of Out of the Black it feels as if this talented songwriter is tapping into something from beyond her time, the heartbeat of the great Nina Simone is never too far from this woman’s voice, the strength of character that sees her heritage and the beauty of her background in Paris/Cameroon and of the delightful bleakness that fills every outpouring, the rain and fine mist that collects on the desperate days of weather as Manchester glimmers in its red brick buildings.
There are many ways in which you can exorcize the past, finding your voice and being creative about is one such way and this is exactly what Tiki Black brings to the table, the haunting melody, the grace of a piano, provided by the superb John Ellis, straining under the power of enticing but tormenting fingers are just too good to pass by. Lyrically as well as musically alluring, tracks such as Free Like Smoke, Listen, the album title track, the wonder of Le Cinquième Élément and Silence, No More are moments of extraordinary vision. Not just an honour but complete respect should be shown.
Out of the Black will probably never make it into your top fifty albums of all time but the sense of honour, the genuine appreciation you will feel for the music and the utter charm of the lyric writing will make it one of those wonderful additional extras that you like to throw in and with great voice say that you remember when you first heard this and it is still a brilliant work of art.
Ian D. Hall