Album Review: Erakah, Infatuated

CD cover: Erakah - Infatuated.

The debut album from Auckland artist Erakah muscles off the competition and stakes her claim on local R & B.

Channelling her inspirations - Brandy, Beyonce, Alicia Keys - she croons about boys and empowers the single ladies. She's 25, so is more or less ruled by emotions, and she pours them out of 11 soulful tracks.

It is probably quite an appropriately-titled album because Erakah is, it seems, rather infatuated with boys - "you make my life worth living," she sings in the title track and "you've got more appeal than any man in this whole world" she sings on Tell Me, a track featuring fellow R & B child J Williams, which sounds more Kylie Minogue pop than any of the others.

She gets her staunch on during the dance track In or Out which is about being let down by one of her best friends while Hold You Near is more of a heart-wrencher and I Only Settle is a sultry yet classy ballad, written for her friend's wedding, which would not be out of place in a piano bar.

There's not a great deal of (contrived or real) depth to the album, but it sounds like it comes naturally to Erakah. And those thick, warm, treacle vocals sounds like they come from the girl next door - a girl who, despite her strength and stroppiness, can't help being crushed by love.

Stars: 3.5/5
Verdict: Erakah is in the house (next door)

-TimeOut