Produced by Robin Hannibal from ethereal R&B act Rhye, LA-based “modern noir” chanteuse Niia’s debut utilises a similarly luxurious sonic palette. Spacious and immaculately constructed, it mixes Jessie Ware-esque ballads about bruised relationships (Hurt You First) with widescreen, jazz-dappled drama (Sideline) and, on the excellent Nobody, something you can almost dance to. Over time, however, the sonic precision and Niia’s velveteen voice become too cloying, with the emotions in songs such as the heady Girl Like Me trapped beneath a flawless sheen. Overall, there’s plenty to enjoy; if only the edges hadn’t been so smoothed out.
