Nedelle

Republic of Two (Kimchee)

By Amber Drea
Published: August 6th, 2003 | 8:48am

The 22-year-old Nedelle is the indie answer to Nelly Furtado, Alicia Keys, and Fiona Apple. She produced the album, played most of the instruments, and put it out through a small Massachusetts label. Heavily influence by jazz, her music is soft and summery, sweet and feathery. Her voice is soothingly natural, like a young, happier, less-jaded Billie Holiday, and at times reminiscent of Joni Mitchell. Coming straight from the heart, her self-expressive and introspective lyrics are easily accessible. On "Too Late," a shoe-in for the album's single, she sings "I wanted to hold you close/ 'cause now it's too late to save the world/ Your kiss is my only hope." Other notable tracks are "I Lied," which has a Motown R&B swing feel, and "Maybe," a bluesy number with a dark, forceful melody, eerie violin accents, and hand claps. In addition to piano, guitars, and drums (or the occasional Casio-generated beat pattern), the songs often feature organs and '60s-era gospel harmonies. At just over 24 minutes, Republic of Two is a compact and cohesive presentation of her song-writing style and sounds very much like it was recorded in her bedroom. Her sleepy, laid-back album is sure to provide the soundtrack to many a coffee shop in the San Francisco Bay area, where Nedelle makes her home, and throughout the rest of the country, though the baristas may end up serving more chamomile tea than espresso.