Publications
Partners
The very self-importantly-titled Testimony: Vol 2, Love & Politics does have its moments though. "Ghetto" makes the point - repeatedly but eloquently - that the poverty gap is widening, that all over the world, the majority pays the price for the way the rich live. India clearly means well when she praises the courage of women suffering from Somalia to Rwanda in an elegant takeover of some of Sting's 80s territory on "Pearls". And her musical influences speak of Pan African experimentation that, while diluted, does set her apart from all the other goody-goody girls winning Grammy awards.
But "Chocolate High" (featuring the talents of Musiq Soulchild) feels like just another, less cute duet version of the unbelievably sexy "Brown Skin" off Acoustic Soul. And a lot of the tracks - particularly those in which she alternates extolling the virtues of one of her lovers, with praising her God, with churning out trademark platitudes about self-worth - are more wordy than profound. There's simply no song on here with the uplifting kick of "Video", just a lot of lyrics saying the same things in much less interesting ways.
Of course, India's gorgeous voice is always going to make her the darling of neo-soul radio. If you're just after the kind of production you can wallow in like a hot bath, you can't go wrong with this album. People may be suffering in Somalia, but it sounds so damn yummy you just want to add more bubbles and abuse your geyser further.
But "Chocolate High" (featuring the talents of Musiq Soulchild) feels like just another, less cute duet version of the unbelievably sexy "Brown Skin" off Acoustic Soul. And a lot of the tracks - particularly those in which she alternates extolling the virtues of one of her lovers, with praising her God, with churning out trademark platitudes about self-worth - are more wordy than profound. There's simply no song on here with the uplifting kick of "Video", just a lot of lyrics saying the same things in much less interesting ways.
Of course, India's gorgeous voice is always going to make her the darling of neo-soul radio. If you're just after the kind of production you can wallow in like a hot bath, you can't go wrong with this album. People may be suffering in Somalia, but it sounds so damn yummy you just want to add more bubbles and abuse your geyser further.
