Tina Leon – Push & Pull

Soul rooted (but not limited) in classic Motown and the great tradition of the 60s. Diana Ross, Tammi Terrell, and all that great class of ladies from an elegant era. Also, silky strings, funky brass, though a bit too discreet for my taste, bouncy guitar, and above all, a caressing voice, precise, and imbued with appropriately sexy inflections, not tacky either.

Montrealer Tina Leon knows how to do it. She also knows how to surround herself. It was while noting the often unconventional arrangements that I noticed the name Antoine Gratton, excellent at giving surprising pep to the often conventional colors of pop music-making. And then I saw the rest of the lineup: Alex McMahon (producer, plus a bunch of instruments), Kevin Warren (drums), Jérôme Beaulieu (co-producer, keyboards, synths), Ariane Moffat (producer, keyboards, and more), the Quatuor Esca on strings, and many others. It’s pretty solid. The discreet and refined additions of electro draw a connection with our current 21st century, but without distorting the initial inspiration of a vintage-spirited soul, capable of donning modern attire without losing its, well, soul.

Very good soul music, authentic and relevant.