Full of joyous soul jams, with Tony Momrelle’s impeccable vocals

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Even the most talented of soul artists can falter as they enter the recording studio, allowing their craft to be shaped by the expectations and tastes of the commercial mainstream. Fortunately, Tony Momrelle knows his strengths as a songwriter and vocalist. Don’t forget: he cut his teeth singing background for the likes of Whitney Houston, Sade, and Janet Jackson. Best is Yet to Come, Momrelle’s third solo studio album, is a fine work of contemporary soul. It is also the first release from Momrelle’s own label Vibe45 Records. 

Perhaps more successfully than his previous efforts, the record is polished without being over-produced. While good singing is largely ignored in the mainstream (or even seen as a distraction?), Momrelle’s voice – thick slabs of honey-whipped butter – is unfiltered and allowed to shine. However reductionist it may sound, it is difficult to listen to Momrelle without thinking of the likes of Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway.

The bulk of the album is comprised of romantic jams. ‘You Got It’ has a Motowny chorus but with Curtis Mayfield sheen, and Momrelle’s high tenor sits comfortably in the groove. The semi-acoustic ‘We Can Have it All’, where Momrelle explores the realms of possibility with his lover, has a Stevie Wonder romanticism to its melody and lyric. Beginning as a pleasant if staid mid-tempo, ‘I Can’t Live Without You’ becomes livelier and fuller by its climax.

The tone is varied with the more melancholic and wistful ‘I Should Have Loved You More’, which Momrelle phrases with vulnerability and poise. Moreover, his live rendition of Ray Charles’ ‘I Believe to My Soul’ (also recorded by Donny Hathaway) adds a needed dose of grit and aggression. Backed by a strong rhythm section, Momrelle’s vocal here is fierce and uninhibited, showcasing his command of melisma and agility in switching between the different registers of his voice.

The remaining songs draw upon Momrelle’s striving mentality. Describing the album, Momrelle explains: ‘[It’s] about shaking off the old and embracing the new, letting go of things, situations & even people that may hold me back.’  Spearheading this sentiment is lead single and opening track ‘Rising Up‘, a hooky self-empowerment anthem. ‘Two Minutes Forty’ – a truncated expression of political outrage – is not overly compelling, but will probably translate better in a live set. However, the title track which closes the record sees Momrelle channelling his inner Stevie Wonder with a rosy ballad of reassurance, optimism, and brotherhood that lands just right.

Standout Tracks: ‘We Can Have It All’, ‘I Should Have Loved You More’, ‘Best is Yet to Come’

(Image copyright: Vibe45 Records)