Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
From seemingly out of nowhere a fresh breeze can offer hope of spreading a scorching fire further than it might have ever intended and for Ina Forsman and her debut self-titled album, that fire is alive, charming and an stylish reminder of a time that many may have forgotten about.
There are not many in this world that can match the elegance that arguably came naturally to Nina Simone, her voice is almost peerless and adds flavour, warmth and the slight thrill of expectation when delivered in full flight. It takes courage to place trust in a song so distinctively Ms. Simone, in this case I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl, it takes resounding taste in the past to offer a new take on an old classic and in Ina Forsman that sense of taste, courage and elegance is assured, it complements Ms. Simone completely and whilst Ms. Simone will always be looked upon as a gracious singer, a vocalist of sincerity and truth, Ms. Forsman projects enough of those qualities herself within her voice to act as a 21st Century balance for the song.
It is in the feel of the sultry winds of the deserts that the images make their mark and whilst the indelible feel of Helsinki, mysterious, cool, resounding in beauty, emanates from the mouth of Ms. Forsman, it is to the shores of lands beyond the sight of the world that capture the dusky full bloodied power at the disposal of Ina Forsman.
In songs such as Pretty Messed Up, Don’t Hurt Me Now, the excellent Now You Want Me Back and Devil May Dance Tonight, Ms. Forsman offers a small but captivating peek at her soul, it is one that captures the ears and the heart and never steps away, never backs off, from allowing the imagination to wonder if the enigmatic persona is there away from the studio.
To pull off enigmatic, one has to truly be so, otherwise like some, it just comes across as arrogant and pretentious, false and alarming. Ms Forsman is inscrutable, charming and full of character and yet at all times only allowing the listener to feel beneath the deep ocean of her soul a tiny fraction; there is so much more to come, so much more inside of her that time is likely to smile as it waits.
Ina Forsman’s self titled debut is released on Ruf Records on February 26th.
Ian D. Hall