Queen Alone

Nicole Wray finally gets the retro-soul triumph her golden vocals deserve. The former Missy Elliott protégé’s career has regularly been interrupted by false starts and bad luck but a voice this versatile and powerful can’t stay hidden forever. Buzzing guitars, punchy percussion and a stately hook lace “Do It Again” with grit and optimism to match her indefatigable spirit, while the rhythmic invention of tracks such as “Cut Me Loose” ensures this is much more than simple pastiche.