| 05 August 2011
Anticipation is high at an expectant Queens Hall for the welcome and overdue return of Edinburgh's very own Niki King to her native city. With a critically acclaimed new album and a stonkingly hot band, The Elements, behind her, the buzz surrounding the Scottish songbird with the extraordinary soul voice sees the venerable venue packed and on tenterhooks.
The new album, It's All Good, sees King return to her song-writing roots with a collection of self-penned soul anthems and ballads. She wastes no time in showcasing her new work and her incredible voice, with the ten-piece The Elements, led by drummer and musical director Jerome Jennings, providing an impressively tight and soulful musical landscape that channels the spirit of Atlantic-Stax, a dollop of funk and a smidgeon of Grace Jones, and comes up with something infectiously vibrant.
There is a vigorous workout of new single 'After Rain' that has the audience on their feet, and the heartbreaking 'Work It Out' and 'Pieces Of My Life' are as powerful and moving as anything in the King canon. Closing her set with the funky 'Do You Love Me', the shimmering singer then encores with yet another future soul-standard before leaving The Elements to take their well-deserved acclamation.
With a sound and a band to match the power and accomplishment of the new material, on the evidence of the Queens Hall performance the future looks distinctly bright for Niki King & The Elements. As the title of the new album proudly declares - It's All Good.
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