Posted on 11/04/2009
Sincerity always wins. This should be the mantra for the music that succeeds, and the lesson for that which fails. Granted, talent is also necessary, but if artists could hold fast to their truths, there is no doubt that they would garner an audience, and even sell a record or two. More importantly, they might even have a career that lasts longer than a high school love affair. This is what I’m hoping for fusion band, Ndelible, and so far, they have laid quite the groundwork with their first full length album, Time & Chance.

Time & Chance is an amalgamation of all things that are inside. David James, the vocalist and writer of most of the songs; pens lyrics that are directly connected to the human experience, veering far from abstraction and resting at eye-level for anyone who chooses to “experience” life daily. And Myron Mullen and Ron B serve not as just musical accompaniment, but as co-exhibitors of these ideas.

The album starts perfectly with a smooth, groovy mid-tempo tune begging for radio play. “Consistent,” is a song that describes the fickleness of people and their proposed “love” and how an invariable love is what we all search for. James takes a page from the soul book on this one, as his unique rasp encapsulates what consistent love feels like. “On My Way To Love,” is a song that describes the process of getting over after the consistent love becomes inconsistent. Here we get a glimpse of James’s skill as an emcee, which was his original moniker. He shines lyrically, and the music is “hand dancy,” and catchy.

Though Ndelible has their share of love songs, it’s important to note that they aren’t three pigeons burrowing themselves into the romance hole. Instead, they are versatile and poignant when it comes to song topics. One of my favorites is “They Were Wrong,” a song about social benchmarks, and community pressures that often breed misunderstandings and preconceived notions. James sings, “One day you’ll look up and see/ They are wrong about you/And no man controls your destiny/ They are wrong about you.” This is a timeless message that should be played in classrooms, cubicles and even churches everywhere. On, “Time and Chance,” the title track, Ndelible blatantly explains that they have a message from God, an obvious fact at this point. “Time and chance happens to us all/ I’m not afraid to try/I’m not afraid to try…” are words to live by, and though seemingly philosophical they are just tidbits of everyday truth easy enough to understand, but serious enough to heed.

Time & Chance, the first album by Ndelible is a worthy introduction to what I hope is a long-lasting career. The musical nuances are delightful and exciting to what have become mundane radio ears. The lyrics are thoughtful, as if David James sees himself as a vessel (I mean, the dude’s name is David James) and his voice is not some crooner’s silky timbre, but rather a gutty imperfection, untampered with in a world of perfect thin-voiced love singers. But like I said, sincerity always wins. Always. And if Ndelible continues to be sincere, then indelible they will be, indeed.

-Jason Reynolds