Nikka Costa - Dirty Disco 
Release Date: Out Now
This is the first album in six
years from Nikka Costa but, to my eternal shame, it’s the first album I’ve ever
heard from the Californian. ‘Dirty Disco’ is both the title and opening track
but it’s a subtle start with a processed beat, some woozy synths and a sound
that is somewhere between Grace Jones, Kraftwerk and the Beverly Hills Cop
soundtrack. By comparison, ‘It’s Just Love’ immediately settles in to a
Prince-esque groove with a little Scissor Sisters sass on the side if you want
to dip your disco fries in it. ‘Keep It High’ straddles the Chic line more confidently
with a dirty bass line and the kind of beat that will make you think this one
came straight from the 70s in a disco time machine.
Recent single ‘Dance ‘N Forget’
sounds just as funky in the album context and really shows off Costa’s voice
that is full of soul, funk and just enough raunch to make you uncomfortably hot
under the collar. The fabulously titled ‘Glitter In My Tears’ is in no way a
sad banger but rather a tale of dancing in the face of disaster while ‘Satellite
Girl’ does slow things down for a late night slow jam but one that definitely
wants to see you for breakfast. ‘All That I R’ sounds like a blend of Macy Gray
and Sheryl Crow with a slow, gentle shuffle paired with a soulful melody
leading in to ‘Unsubscribe’, a seriously funky track about taking control of
your inbox, emails and, potentially, your life – definitely one to add to my Monday
morning motivation playlist.
The closing pair of tracks starts
with ‘Slow Emotion’, a song that is full of West Coast sunshine, smooth soul
and the kind of vocals that will soothe the most savage of beasts. Finishing
off with ‘Connectivity’, Costa brings out the inner James Brown but with those
Prince vocal harmonies and a horn section to die for – it’s a hell of party
stopper. Nikka Costa is the real deal, the princess of p-funk, the Sister of
Soul and an absolute joy to behold – and we all need a little more joy in our lives
right now, don’t we? We do. Joy, funk, soul and more joy.
More information: https://www.nikkacosta.com/
Live Dates:
20th September - Ventura, CA
21st September - Millpond Music Festival, Bishop
22nd September - Berkley, CA
25th September - Tacoma, WA
27th September - Portland, OR
28th September - San Diego, CA
30th September - Los Angeles, CA
8th November - Washington, DC
9th November - Woodstock, NY
11th November - Ardmore, PA
12th November - New York, NY
14th November - Asbury Park, NJ