Kodama

The international debut release from Franco-Japanese singer Maïa Barouh is an eclectic affair and reveals a young and talented artist with great promise. The daughter of French chanson singer-songwriter and actor Pierre Barouh, she combines elements of electronica, South Japanese singing techniques and Gypsy traditions. This is a bold work, although at times the production can be a distraction, with some tracks falling into the much-maligned territory of ‘world beat,’ with echoes of the woeful Deep Forest – however there are some alluring arrangements to be found.

The best moments are when Barouh's voice takes to the fore: her impressive range and control, combined with the beautiful technique she learned in southern Japan, can be breathtaking. One of the album's standout tracks is ‘Aizu’; you really hear her vocal talents here, and the production actually drives the work, rather than detracting from it. She has the frenetic energy and creative passions of an early Björk and with the right direction, there is great scope for her to sculpt out a strong and fruitful career.