Twice

Personnel: Black Steel (guitar, piano, organ); Alfred Bannerman, Kashta Tafari (guitar); Catriona Cannon (irish harp); Leroy Horns (saxophone); Bubblers, Cyrus Richards (piano, organ); Barthélémy Corbelet, Omar Lye-Fook (Clavinet, synthesizer); Horseman (drums, percussion); Marlon Roudette (steel pan); Prince Fatty, Anselmo Netto, Adriano Adewale, Lenny Edwards (percussion); Dennis Bovell, George Dekker (background vocals).
Arranger: Yoann Le Dantec.
Calling her music "tropical pop," singer Hollie Cook (her dad was Paul Cook, drummer with the Sex Pistols, while her mother, Jeni Cook, was a backing vocalist with Culture Club) combines the potent but laid-back rhythms of reggae and the melodies and dramatic flair of '60s girl group sounds, and delivers music that's upbeat, sensuous, and fun. Cook became an artist to watch with her self-titled debut album in 2011, which earned her gigs as diverse as an appearance on Later...With Jools Holland and a spot opening for the Stone Roses on their wildly anticipated comeback shows in 2012. Cook's second full-length, 2014's Twice, follows in the same path as her debut, featuring nine tracks dominated by Cook's smooth, slyly sexy voice and arrangements that keep the grooves light but dance-friendly at once. ~ Mark Deming