Whether you’re into the lush summer pop vibes of ‘Dreaming Again’, or the simpering trumpet interludes of the jazz-fuelled ‘Neptune Hotel’ there’s no denying that Canadian born songstress Mimi Oz plays to her own tune. Her second full-length album ‘Men Who Never Loved Me’ was part funded by the Ontario Arts Council and the result is a fantastically spirited fusion of pop, honkytonk, lush balladry, blues and country.
Album opener ‘Tickly My Berry’ see’s Oz brightly crooning ‘Hello again…’ There’s real warmth in that voice, and as the song launches into its power pop chorus it feels just like a sugar rush. Something similar happens on the aforementioned ‘Dreaming Again’, where tinkling piano keys are replaced with a dreamy balladry and accented fiddles, this time around though it feels like the whole song might take off. But things aren’t always so saccharine sweet. ‘Future Trouble’ beds itself in as a grassroots country shuffle, abundant in rich question and answer style harmonies; whilst ‘Women Perfect’ is a dreamy jazz number loaded with muted trumpets and questions about her lover’s intentions. Amidst all of it, it becomes clear that Oz is lyrically adept and has no trouble shooting from the hip. But it’s the oddities in her style which really make her shine. Take ‘Neptune Hotel’ for example, a song which pairs odd syncopated rhythms with Oz’s bubbling vocal delivery in a fusion which becomes more fractious as the song reaches its peak. It’s wonderful stuff. Whatever side of Mimi Oz you declare to be your favourite though it’s obvious that in ‘Men Who Never Loved Me’ she’s managed to strike a balance between style and substance and she’s done it entirely her own way. What’s not to love about that?