Stories is the debut album by former Ford model InLove, and it’s produced by legendary DJ CAM. She was born and raised in Nigeria, and spent the 15th first years of her life under the influence of African vibes, music, rhythm and dance. At 20 years old she met DJ CAM, and they collaborated on DJ CAM’s album Soulshine, featuring the million selling hit “Summer In Paris.” She is inspired by great artists as Ella Fitzgerald, Jill Scott, Sade, Dusty, Springfield and Portishead. However, you can’t hear any African influences on Stories; it sounds more like the cosmopolitan brand of sophisticated R&B and Japanese nu-jazz. Dusty Springfield and Beth Gibbons are clearly sources of inspiration with her laidback cool and smoky singing, but her voice sounds a little thin over the ten tracks.

The songs are beautiful, without falling into the chillout cliché, and DJ CAM’s production is jazzy and soulful; the type of music you’d expect from a labels like Naked Music or OM. On “For Minnie Riperton,” although InLove has Minnie’s tone, she clearly lacks her range. “Sweetest Pain” has a piano-driven, slow house beat, reminiscent of early ’90s British acid jazz, and the strongest cut is “Rock With You,” an uptempo number with handclaps and dark strings. She also covers Dusty’s “The Look Of Love,” but it sounds semi-cheesy with tablas and Stevie Wonder style Rhodes. All in all, it’s a beautiful record.

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