Somehow, almost twenty years have passed since Ndidi O(nukwulu)’s debut released No, I Never found its way to my very crowded writing desk.

We’ve changed, the two of us: one has gotten way older, the other better and better. I’ll let you decide who is which.

Simple Songs for Complicated Times contains eleven country-blues-soul songs of significant quality, some with a groovy southern feel (“Working Girl, for one), others just as gritty with more of a gentle, late-night dance vibe. Working again with Steve Dawson (as she did way back on The Contradictor) Ndidi O is a strong and beautiful singer, one who connects with the listener through an honest presentation of shared emotion.

Containing all original songs, Simple Songs for Complicated Times features Ndidi stretching into Billie Holliday territory for her vocal presentation of “Don’t Come Back.” This is a masterful performance, highlighting an emotional journey. Other standout tracks include “Grief,” “Ode to Death,” “Light On,” and “In May,” each featuring different shades of Ndidi’s vocal and musical personality. “Change This Life” is especially inspirational, with the peppy “Too Late” providing hope.

Backing vocalists Dawn Pemberton, Khari McClelland, and Kari Latimer are most deserving of notice, as is the instrumental team helmed by Dawson (his usual selection of guitar flavours.) Chris Gestrin (keyboards including organ, Wulitzer, piano, mellotron, and clavinet), Sam Howard (bass), and Gary Craig (drums and percussion) create pockets of sound to ideally showcase Ndidi’s lyrics, melodies, and singing.

Simple Songs for Complicated Times is a welcome album, reacquainting me with a favoured artist I had lost track of for over a decade. A remarkable and most enjoyable album.

[Had it been released earlier in the 2024 Polaris Music Prize cycle, it would certainly have been on my recently submitted ballot; fortunately, because of its April release date, we can possibly advocate for it next year.]