Solange! Solange Knowles! Or according to the cover of her latest CD: 'Solange presents: Sol-Angel And The Hadley St. Dreams' (out from Universal). Solange is indeed the younger sister of Beyoncé. She's been touring with Destiny's Child for several years now, since she was 13. In the meantime she's written for Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. And that Hadley St. is the creative headquarters for the successful family business. Or, how a fairy-tale can also deliver impassioned soul!

In the studio, Solange meanwhile received assistance from CEE-LO (Gnarls Barkley), Mark Ronson (Amy Winehouse), Motown legend Lamont Dozier, Raphael Saadiq, The Neptunes, Q-Tip... But she prefers to find her inspiration with Shuggie Otis, Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding... And the result is indeed as we can quote from her site: The Daffy, Mesmerizing, Retro-Soul Surreality of Beyoncé's Younger Sister. Not just the retro soul recycling from many British ladies, rather a more American and more psychedelic sound.

Or, as DE STANDAARD reported: '...there is more emphasis on the harmony than on the beats. Solange builds a bridge between sixties-soul and today's 'urban' music. What's more, she's very well surrounded. Vocally, she's no hooligan. Even in the uptempo 'Sandcastle disco' she purrs more than she shoots sparks. Solange wants to sound subtle, like Marvin Gaye, who receives an ode here. And in 'Cosmic journey' she lets you hear that she can also develop her R&B electronically (with the help of singer Bilal).'

You already made her acquaintance as support act to Alicia Keys? Now in full glory in the AB Box!

Solange - I Decided