Building on the foundation of 2019's remarkable
Walk Through Fire
, singer/songwriter
Yola
again strikes gold with
Stand for Myself
, a record as inviting as it is powerful. A British artist whose effortless amalgam of American roots, pop, and soul traditions has earned her heaps of praise and several Grammy nominations,
Yolanda Quartey
is also a first-rate songwriter with an appealing sense of humanity. Partnered again with producer
Dan Auerbach
and his affectionately retro
Easy Eye Sound
label, her songs are dressed in lush layers of vintage organs, horns, and a punchy rhythm section that recall the intersection of late-'60s/early-'70s soul, pop, R&B, and country. But, despite this affection for classic tones,
is no mere throwback;
is a fully present and vital collection of timely emotions and timeless arrangements. Juxtaposed against big, enveloping melodies and a hearth-like warmth are themes of isolation, social awakening, and her own reckoning with the tokenism of being a Black English woman working in predominantly white Nashville. Standout single "Diamond Studded Shoes" is an infectious protest rocker that absolutely crackles with the energy of its unifying message. Likewise, the gritty title track stands as a bold anthem of harnessing one's personal strength that builds to a massive, growling crescendo as
sings "I used to be nothing like you, I used to feel nothing like you, now I'm alive." There are sweeter cuts too, like the disco-inflected breakup track "Dancing Away the Tears" and the funky love ballad "Now You're Here," both of which represent a sonic shift away from the country-soul of her first record into something more stylistically nebulous. What is striking about
's music, aside from her unmistakable voice, is her effortless ability to convey joy and comfort even while tapping into heavier moods.
is a stunner with plenty of emotional firepower, but it can also feel soft as a wool blanket. ~ Timothy Monger