Album review: N’Dambi’s Pink Elephant

by Rich Lopez of of Dallas Voice

Credit: Brian Guilliaux

Dallas born N'Dambi

The Dallas-born singer N'Dambi appeared on Erykah Badu’s 1997 debut Baduizm and subsequently followed with her own release, Little Lost Girl Blues, in 1999. Her jazzy soul garnered acclaim in alternative markets and signified talent that with a little refining would produce some fine art. Pink Elephant fulfills that.

Where Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings recreate old school funk and soul and Amy Winehouse relies on vintage R&B influence, N’Dambi keeps a smooth groove here that hints at the past, nods heavily to the neo-soul of the mid-’90s, and displays savvy sophistication, as in “The One,” a smoky-joint ready song with a rhythm that only needs to wade through its bass line.

This formula is prevalent as each song coasts along, giving the album a sexy chill. “Mind Blowin’” begs you to snap your fingers to the beat and sway with the flow while N’Dambi flitters between high notes and her natural register.

Despite everything that’s sexy about the album, it doesn’t rely on sex to sell it. Her songs vary from narratives of human life in the first track, “L.I.E., “ to optimistic feel-good vibes about “Nobody Jones.” She explores love and life without gimmick.

But don’t sell her romance short. “Ooo Baby” is a sensual epic that should be put in everyone’s arsenal of love-makin’ music.

At a playtime of 51 minutes for 12 songs, each track is wonderfully substantial. N’Dambi isn’t afraid to venture into the four-to-five minute-plus realm for a song.

Many play for a mere three, but all tunes here offer an actual arc from beginning to end -- and the longer the better. “Imitator” confesses her issues with her man, and at five minutes, she paints a full picture.

Sure, Dallas has Erykah and Norah, but N’Dambi reminds us that she is right there with them in the best of strong female performers from here. In fact, with Pink Elephant, she might even be better.