Nina Sky:
Nina Sky

Release Date: 28 June 2004

Reviewed By: Keya Modessa

1. Nina Sky Is... (Album Intro)

2. Move Ya Body - feat. Jabba

3. You Deserve - feat. Betty Wright

4. Turnin' Me On

5. Let It Go

6. Goodbye (interlude)

7. Your Time

8. Runaway

9. In A Dream (remix)

10. Surely Missed

11. Temperature's Rising (prelude)

12. Temperature's Rising

13. Holla Back

14. Faded Memories

15. Get Up And Dance (remix)

Brandy - Afrodisiac
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Every now and then an artist or group is plucked from obscurity and somehow with some stroke of luck manage to infiltrate our radio stations and television sets. This is exactly what happened with the track ‘Move Ya Body.’ After listening to it on all the music stations, be it TV and radio, being belted out from every street corner from Brixton to Camden, I finally managed to find out who the artist was behind this track.

The infectious, hot weather, booty shaking, party-starting track "Move Ya Body" belonged to a group called Nina Sky, and I use the term ‘group’ loosely, because they are in fact a duo, actually sisters…more to the point- twins.

Nina Sky is made up of two identical 18-year-old, Puerto Rican twins, Natalie and Nicole Albino, who hail from Queens, New York. The girls were discovered by New York’s premier RnB and hip hop station, Hot 97’s DJ Cipher Sounds.

To get a better understanding of the girls, they have included a one-minute intro on themselves; “A lot of people have asked what is Nina Sky…who is Nina Sky. NI comes from Nicole and NA comes from Nathalie. Nina Sky is family, sisters, twins. Nina Sky is limitless it’s hip hop, reggae, rhythm and blues, rock, alternative, jazz funk and, soul. Nina Sky is music; Nina Sky is harmony, powerful, fragile, bold, shy, abstract, basic. Sunrise and sunset, Nina Sky is balance. We are Nina Sky.”

Signed to Next Plateau/Universal Records the album was dropped almost immediately after the single debuted and hit the floors. The 15-track album is as diverse as it is hot and for a debut, has the makings of a sure fire hit. Many have already cynically suggested that the sisters’ infectious tune can be likened to Lumidee’s one hit summer wonder… If this is the case, only time will tell.

One crazy track on the album is the balled-esque 80’s sounding song ‘You Deserve.’ It features legendary singer Betty Wright and on this specific track, the girls voices have striking similarities to Long Island singer Lil’ Mo.

The perfect next single would be ‘Turnin' Me On.’ It’s another club banger that could nicely compliment ‘Move Ya Body.’ The upbeat, percussion, dance tune is slightly smoother and softer then their debut, but is just as catchy and has those instrumental, reggae beats throughout.

Much of the album has repetitive beats ubiquitous in most of their featured songs, becoming quite a trademark with the girls. At times you may think it sounds very similar to the previous.

The twins voices are melodic, with a classic RnB feel. What really took me by surprise was how many time their voices change and sound like other well-known artists. I’m talking from the likes of Destiny’s Child to our very own Miss Dynamite. Also, the girls experiment with such a variety of musical elements taken from different genres that it is very hard to categorise them into a specific box. Prominent influences include reggae, pop, and obviously there’s a fair share of RnB thrown in there too.

Another great uplifting, energetic track is ‘Runaway.’ It sums up those times in our lives when we feel like we just need an outlet, a getaway; ‘I need some time to get away from the problems in my life, to relieve my mind and put aside all of this shit attackin me inside, all of this drama surrounding me, drives me crazy constantly, i just need some time to breathe and take my mind off of everything.’

The album begins really up-tempo and loud, but slowly becomes slightly more serious. From track 10, the beautiful ‘Surely Missed’ becomes the classic RnB smooth groove in the album. The track brings to light the issue of loosing your best friend. It is more heavily reliant on the girls vocals rather than any heavy deep rhythms. ‘Temperature’s Rising’ is yet another smoothed out groove, and once again features a lot of percussion and instrument music which reaches a climatic peak. It is seductive and sensual with the two voices blending beautifully.

The last few tracks take on a louder beat once again. ‘Get Up and Dance’ lends itself to the element of rock and just like Move Ya Body is best listened to at full volume.

The album is a great debut for these young angel faced girls. If it’s a refreshing change that your looking for, something different to the one-dimensional artists, then Nina Sky is the perfect choice.

Ratings: 3/5

Favourite Tracks
Move Ya Body
You Deserve
Runaway

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