NIKO

'LIFE ON EARTH'

GRAND CENTRAL
2LP/CD

(AUGUST 2004)

‘Life on Earth’ is the funky debut from New York-based beauty Niko (Nicole Vergel De Dios), the latest signing of the cool Grand Central Records label.

The vibe here is a mix of jazz, hip-hop and soul beats (‘You're My Favourite Music’) with a smattering of 80s electro and pop (‘Shifting’) and is produced collaboratively by Mr Scruff, Mark Rae and Aim of Grand Central Records.

This heady concoction combined with Niko's striking looks (courtesy of Japanese and Spanish parentage) provides something well worth taking interest in. Style comparisons could be drawn with Amy Winehouse (although a polished version minus the cigarette-affected voice), and especially Norah Jones on the billowy ‘Sirens’, but Niko's sound is a lot funkier. And there's a definite Erykah Badu-feel to the delivery of ‘Love You to Pieces’.