Nikka Costa took a stab at electropop crossover at the dawn of the 2010s but it didn't click. Instead of battling trends, she took some time to raise a family and then returned in 2008 with
Nikka & Strings. Perhaps the title is a nod to
Sinatra & Strings, the 1962 LP that was the first time
the Chairman of the Board worked with
Nikka's father, Don Costa, but it's also a statement of fact: this record finds the singer changing course and recording with a small combo supplemented by strings. Although this form is familiar through classic vocal pop,
Nikka & Strings isn't a walk through the Great American Songbook.
Costa concentrates on rock & roll-era standards, covering everything from
Marvin Gaye's "Ain't That Peculiar" to
Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U," adding a couple of originals and pop standards to the mix. The common thread tying these tunes together is that they provide a platform for
Costa's vocal acrobatics, none of which have diminished during her hiatus.
Costa is able to show off every inch of her range through these 11 songs, and that concentrated dose of prowess is what truly distinguishes
Nikka & Strings: if you've ever wanted just to hear
Costa sing, this is the record for you. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine