To those in the know, Angie Stone is a much-underrated talent, a blue-blood diva whose ascending star was lost in the stampede of highly photogenic nu-soul contenders like Alicia Keys and Jill Scott. Having already delivered ‘Black Diamond’ and ‘Mahogany Soul’, the ex-Vertical Hold singer seemed shackled to comparisons with Lauryn Hill. With such a voluptuous album finally on offer, it seems as though Stone’s lone turn in the spotlight is fast approaching.
Blessed with honeyed vocals, Stone trades in sexy, laid-back, charming R&B. Rather than resort to the gimmicky histrionics of other urban contenders, her music is slick, unhurried, almost bordering on post-millennial MOR, a snapshot of cocktail fuelled nightlife. On occasion, Stone, with her Southern-fried, sleepy-eyed style is reminiscent of the effortlessly cool Erykah Badu, which is no bad thing. ‘Lover’s Ghetto’ is as sexy, womanly and highly charged as Minnie Riperton’s almost-perfect ‘Les Fleur’, while on ‘My Man’, Stone’s teaming with the hugely credible Floetry is nothing short of inspired. ‘You’re Gonna Get It’, no doubt a future single, is a polished, highly accomplished slice of radio-friendly perfection.
Some might contend that the album is unshakeably down-tempo, almost monotonous in its leanings. Granted, ‘Stone Love’ could have gone either way, yet for some bizarre reason, Stone’s low-light, richly moody music works perfectly, proving that you can never get too much of a good thing.
Credit for Stone may be long overdue; with any luck, ‘Stone Love’ will be remembered for showing the R&B set how it’s really done.