One of the numerous R&B strains in
Moniquea's self-titled 2011 debut was synth-funk, as heard on lead single "Can't Let You Go," a track that, production-wise, fell somewhere between 1980
Zapp and 1983
Mtume. After that album, the singer -- who is originally from Gary, Indiana, like
Deniece Williams, but was raised in Pasadena, California, stomping grounds of stylistic peer
Dâm-Funk -- gravitated more toward early-'80s sounds with help from
XL Middleton and Eddy Funkster.
Yes No Maybe is clearly aimed at lovers of electronics-heavy R&B, including the above-mentioned artists and the likes of
Midnight Star,
Cameo,
the System,
Kleeer,
Gwen Guthrie, and
Kashif-produced dynamos like
Evelyn "Champagne" King and
Melba Moore. The album largely works midtempo and uptempo material for dancefloors, led by the sportive "Casanova (Let You Go)" and "I Don't Wanna Get Used to It," but she and
I, CED slow it down a bit for "I Need It All," an unapologetically Yamaha DX7-driven groove. As with
Dâm-Funk's output, one of the main characteristics that separates this stuff from its inspirations is that the sound is thicker, more bottom-heavy.
Moniquea never truly belts or wails. Instead, she keeps to an amiable but assertive approach that fully serves these bounding, flavorful tracks. ~ Andy Kellman