Ultra Naté
Stranger Than Fiction
Strictly Rhythm
You remember her from her club hits “Desire” and “Get It Up (The Feeling),” but you should know her for her newest CD, Stranger Than Fiction, which is astoundingly cool, solid, funky music. If you like Mary J. Blige, Black Diamond, or India.Arie, then Ultra Naté will make your day (and make you move). While most of the album is centered around danceable songs with good rhythms and catchy, woman friendly lyrics, you’ll find a few token love songs, a breakup rant, and a few other tunes that are just for the funk of it. Throughout the CD, Ultra Naté’s voice radiates and her unique views and can do attitude frame every song. It’s one of those discs that you play all the way through, and then repeat again. The best track: “Ain’t Looking for Nothing,” a retro funkadelic dance piece that is every woman’s inner anthem. The worst track: “Ghost.”
Strictly Rhythm Records, 920 Broadway, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10010; http://www.strictly.com, http://www.ultranate.com