Mica Paris - Contribution

Mica Paris progressed considerably with her second album, Contribution, obviously benefitting from stronger production and better material overall. While hip-hop and house elements assert themselves more, Paris' vocals were still in a traditional R&B vein. This neo-soul approach -- hip, up-to-date production combined with down-home, earthy soul singing -- almost put Paris on an artistic level with fellow British neo-soul divas Lisa Stansfield and Caron Wheeler. Paris' singing is generally more confident and assured than before, and she soars on everything from the imaginative "South of the River" to a haunting Prince song ("If I Love U 2 Nite") to an unapologetically sentimental remake of Smokey Robinson & The Miracles' "More Love." Like "Where Is the Love" from So Good, this '60s Motown classic tests what Paris is truly made of -- and makes it clear that she's striving for depth and substance, not superficiality. Read More