California is the follow up to Natalie Garniner’s critically acclaimed eponymous 2004 debut album, and sees her continuing to explore the deeper side of soul.

A sought-after name among many of Europe's top producers and DJs on the Nu-Jazz scene, this time out she’s been influenced by the singer/songwriters of the 1970s, perfectly mixed with the sparkling beats of producer RMJC.

The 11 downtempo tracks showcase her smoky vocals to great effect; the songs drip with soul, funk and R&B vibes. The acoustic ‘Bittersweet’, soulful ‘Summer Rain’ and the jazzy ‘Let’s Not Worry About Tomorrow’ are all beautiful in their simplicity, each exploring a different facet of her style.

If you like your female vocalists soulful like Eryka Badu, or enjoy acts like Amp Fiddler, Jazzanova or Gilles Peterson then this is one that you should definitely check out. (Miles Taylor)