Angelique Kidjo - Õÿö

(Proper)

Kidjo, undoubtedly Africa’s top female singer, creates an album for the new decade marrying her passion for the music of her home country Benin with the soul music and jazz she also grew up with and a broader Afro-American picture.

Her shape shifting voice moves effortlessly between various African languages, English and French in thrilling songs segueing rootsy rhythms as with ‘Zelie and Kelele’ alongside covers of classics like ‘Move On Up’ with John Legend, ‘Baby I Love You’ with Dianne Reeves and a re-working of ‘Dreams To Remember’. Could this bring this consummate African star with her spot-on political activism another Grammy award?