Pop - Maybe it's her Detroit upbringing...maybe it's her recent signing to the classic Motown label, but whatever it is, L.A.-based singer/songwriter MoZella brings a forthright classic soul/pop component to her fresh and frothy sophomore album Belle Isle. Delivering a potent mix of bright pop melodies and contemporary beats with just enough retro production sound to keep things interesting, Belle Isle is certainly a sizable cut above most of what's out there parading as modern pop music. Yes, we know we're talking more commerce than art when all is said and done (her myspace video is a clip from a Nivea TV spot that hightlighted one of her songs) but we also know that it's a skillful balancing act between the demands of the pervasive "hip-pop" radio/commercial licensing game and remaining true one's own songwriting passions.

Fortunately, the 27-year-old performer manages to pull it off with songs such as the 60's-styled dancefloor gem "Freezing" or the acoustic-meets-synthbeat single "More Of You". As loyal readers will attest, we're pretty selective when it comes to the current crop of radio wannahits -- there's just so much mindless cookie cutter marketing strategies at work (not to mention autotune vocal slouching). So when we DO hear something special, even wrapped in somewhat formulaic production, it gives us a fleeting hope for the masses.

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Mozella - "Freezing" excerpt (from the album Belle Isle)

Mozella - "More of You" (from the album Belle Isle)

Photo: Pamela Littky