CHIDI

An album for a very broad spectrum of people. Chidi is an extremely talented lady comprising a talent that has many classy inferences, I hear Jean Carne, Adriana Evans, the sass of Sunshine Anderson and an edgier grittier vocal aside that would appeal to fans of Tina Turner ! The album is very accessible, very soulful and should be a very big seller if there’s any justice. Some tracks as the CD develops really do edge into Tina Turner territory and that’s ok for me as I am a fan of the Lady. The CD kicks off with a real flourish, plenty of Soul and a tremendous groove. The spoken word, the punchy beats and the cosmic synths speak much to me about the strength of this lady. If I were pushed, I would say that I would buy the album purely for this song and this song alone. I love this to pieces and it’s perfect for a warm spring day such as today. Songs like this can chase clouds away and blow cobwebs away. Those who know me will be aware how many cobwebs cover me !
‘So Naturally’ throws out the album being a mere yet essential one tracker ! This is very, very classy indeed and reminds me of Adrianna Evans meets Oleta Adams! Though this lady has a far better range than Oleta ! The sounds of Tony Toni Tone / Grass Roots Productions ooze from the GORGEOUS ‘My Ray’- a track that would not be out of place on Jody Watley’s ‘Flower’ album, lovely and just right for the warmer weather. The socially conscious ‘They Tell Me’ is great – a song that takes on board the state of the world and the comments made by the optimistic. I get a feeling that there is like me, no cynicism here but therein lies an optimist with experience!
We all make our own fortunes, and Chidi has begun work on a solid career with this CD. Check the lovely and subtle funk of ‘Wrong Again’ complete with rhythm guitar and flute. This is sheer infectious Y2K quality Soul ! Chidi is a great new talent, that goes without saying I heartily and warmly recommend you acquaint yourself with her ASAP.

Barry Towler
The Vibe Scribe
- BARRY TOWLER-THE VIBE SCRIBE

Also From this side of the water comes Chidi’s Unrehearsed, a debut from the former gospel support vocalist now turned solo soulstress. You’ll hear a touch of both Carleen Anderson and Angie Stone about her style, which finds her telling the story in the song rather than just showing off her shops for the sake of it. Some of the material is OK too: ‘They Tell Me’ is religious socio-soul of the ‘we’re going to hell in a handcart unless Jesus saves us’ variety and ‘Laid Back’ which opens, finally shakes off its spoken intro to stretch into a sexy and pleasingly undulating groove. Worth a listen for sure.

CHRIS WELLS. - CHRIS WELLS-SOUL SIDES

A 12-Track CD of some nice new soul tunes….’Laid Back is quite a moody sultry tune which is actually a dream to listen to with it’s cool vocals. Another stand-out is ‘My Ray’ a plodder that contains some lovely vocal changes.
Some nice older sounding styles in the recording are featured and it is more of a listening album with ‘Breaking My Heart’ being a typical example of this. Best track for me is the remix bonus track ’Thinking of You’ probably the track that will get played out at the clubs the most. Quite an esoteric album.

Andy Davies
- ANDY DAVIES

UK soul with a nod to southern soul.
The UK is the soulful sound of the unknown singer for me Chidi. She did her first steps on a musical field was in the local church. After a few years she performed as an opener for gospel artists. She has also stood on stage with James Brown, Prince and Corinne Bailey-Rae. She now has her debut album delivered. Chidi wrote all the songs herself, sang them, also provided the background vocals, and coproduced the CD. She has a Southern soul voice, and mixes elements from rock, reggae, pop and jazz to create its own sound to come. Comparisons with Angie Stone, Millie Jackson, etc.The first two tracks are very nice. 'Laid Back' opens with a spoken part of an infectious groove. Chidi has a certain maturity and knows the soul feeling to retrieve. 'So Naturally is a great song and the first two numbers alone would make you buy the CD. 'Wrong Again' floats on retained funk, and the smooth 'Back 2 Me' is outstanding. "Thinking Of You 'comes at the end as a bonus track again in a remix version. The latter is the better of the two. "Breaking My Heart 'is a nice mid-tempo song and" Praise You "is her gospel background to bid. Chidi is undoubtedly talented, and I look forward to her next product.

Patrick Van de Wiele - PATRICK VAN DE WIELE

Auch wenn die Dame Chidi nicht lange an ihrem hier vorliegendem Debut gefeilt und die Details einstudiert hat, so lassen sich doch die spontan sich einstellenden Hör-Eindrücke nicht vollends ausräumen. „Unrehearsed“ bietet sich als Blaupause eines marktkonformen Middle-Of-The-Road Produkts unvermittelt an – mit allen positiven und negativen Begleiterscheinungen. Wichtig: Chidi gibt sich in jedem Takt und auf jeder ihrer musikalischen Wanderschaften akzeptabel, teilweise gar höheren Ansprüchen genügend, denen ansonsten nur der hipste Untergrund-Artist ein Interesse abringen kann.

Doch davon ist die Engländerin weit entfernt – „Unrehearsed“ ist in seiner Basis-Tendenz ein typisch britisches Sound-Erzeugnis. Klassischer US-Soul der 60ziger und 70ziger bietet eine solide Grundlage, auf der Chidi und ihr Team allgemein zugängliche Zutaten aus den Bereichen Rock, Pop oder Reggae einfließen lassen. Das Resultat erinnert nicht von ungefähr an Tina Turner, Mica Paris oder an die erst kürzlich mit ähnlichem Konzept aufgetretene Corinne Bailey-Rae. Die Hooks sind in allen Lebenslagen verwendbar, fügen sich angenehm dezent an die Gehörgänge und verhalten sich auch bei wichtigen Verrichtungen eher unauffällig (aber eben dennoch wirksam…).

Dafür sorgt unter anderem eben auch Chidis Stimmlage, die alle Ingredenzien der klassischen Soul-Schule mit sich bringt und durch einen kraftvoll-rauen Ton eine tiefgreifende Herzlichkeit verströmt. Aus echtem Schrot und Korn sind dazu auch die zum Einsatz gebrachten Musikanten, die in kompetent zurückhaltender Manier ihre Frontfrau begleiten. Und wenn die Sterne günstig stehen, dann entstehen aus derartigen Kombinationen eben auch Sternstunden, wie „Wrong Again“ oder „So Naturally“ in denen der Groove, die Beatz und die Hooks eine gleichgewichtete Einheit bilden.



Jörg Michael Schmitt, jms@soulsite.de







Jörg Michael Schmitt, jms@soulsite.de
- GERMAN ONLINE MAGAZINE

What I like about Chidi's debut album is that I immediately notice its earthiness, the lack of any attached attitudes, that the 12 songs from "UnRehearsed" (Selah Records) can be extremely sympathetic.
That somewhere between Soul RnB with light-harvesting, as well as gospel and a little jazz, but also pop and reggae-based i'm impressed by its directness and in its beauty because the Englishwoman Chidi, who not only has written and co-produced the songs, knows very well what she wants.

Lex - LEX

With her debut release entitled ‘UnRehearsed’ the highly versatile Singer-Songwriter Chidi offers the listening and viewing audience a return to music with true, raw, soulful emotion avoiding gimmicks and over-production.
Think Jill Scott meets Tina Turner, Neo-Soul meets 60's-70's Rhythm & Blues and you'll get the picture….
The Halo Bar

Chidi is glorious. Her sound is like warm chocolate on the ears. Absolutely beautiful. Love, love, love all these. Will be dropping these on my next show. Great for the early hours. Peace
Dj Ayo x

The CHIDI CD Unrehearsed is fabulous. I'll be playing it tonight www.u105.com
This is going to be a summer soundtrack with us. Cheers and thanks.
Terry 'SOULFLY'

Liking this lady’s voice, favourite tracks are Ray and Thinking Of You. Nice!
Chris Jay Club DJ & Radio Presenter

Chidi's as gorgeous as her music!
Thanks as always for these tracks - I will play at every opportunity and spread the faith!
Pete Hawley – Soul Repsonding
- SOULCHOONZ