Rave Magazine- CHRIS PICKERING

Sassy, soulful songs. Mama Kin is the stage name for Danielle Caruana, sister to Michael and Nicky Caruana of festival scene favourites Bomba. This is her first LP, and it has come after being involved with the JB Seed program, raising two children and gaining the musical confidence to step out from behind her sibling’s shadows. Her brother Michael, however, does help out his younger sister on her debut effort and his Leon Russell-esque piano-playing sets the tone for a good chunk of the record. It’s a very accomplished effort, with some solid songs and groove-based arrangements that showcase Mama Kin’s soulful voice, all of which I imagine translates very well live. For me, the standout track on the record is actually the last one, a sparse number called Your Colour performed solely by Caruana on piano and vocals. It grabbed my attention through its honest lyrics and simplicity, and I wonder if the rest of the album could have benefited from such a stripped-back approach. This is a very polished release and Mama Kin is bound to please all those who like soft, yet soulful vocals over their acoustic rhythm and blues.

CHRIS PICKERING