On a high note

For the two artists today, the high note can have different meanings. In the case of Shura, it’s how impressive and enjoyable the first album can be, while with McMorrow, it can apply to the mean falsetto that’s constantly in use on the new CD.

Shura — Nothing’s Real (Polydor/Universal, available on Amazon.com). Born in 1991 to a Russian actress and an English documentary filmmaker, here is a young artist who has imbibed the music of the ’80s, especially Madonna and Tina Turner. Listen to the ballad Touch, or the dance tune What Happened to Us and tell me if it isn’t the Madonna spirit guiding her songwriting.

Tongue Tied and Make It Up figure heavily on my playlist emanating from the debut album. The nice thing about the musical arranging is that while it sincerely pays homage to the music of that ’80s era, it somehow still manages to sound fresh and very now. And that is no mean feat, as so much of today’s music sound purely derivative. It would be interesting to watch how Shura evolves as an artist over the years.

James Vincent McMorrow — We Move (Faction Records, available on Amazon.com). Here is an Irish singer-songwriter whose falsetto can put Sam Smith out of the business. Fortunately for Sam, James’ music is more folksy, although tinged with R&B influences. More earthy in terms of attack and musical direction, there is much to like with James.

Carrier single is the upbeat Rising Water, and it was my immediate favorite. Last Story and One Thousand Times are also solid tunes. Get Low has a unique song construct with the chorus answering back to James over the first verse. If I had to level a minor complaint, it would be too many ballad-type tunes and introspection, and there are moments when you wish he’d lighten up. But you can’t gripe about the talent and sweet vocal styling.