Sister and Brother - Melky Sedeck

It should come as no surprise that Melky Sedeck, a duo comprised of Wyclef Jean's young sister and brother, are heavily reminiscent of the Fugees, or any of the Refugee Camp side projects. It isn't a matter of the music being in the blood, or any other silly cliché -- it's a matter of a shared sensibility. Melky Sedeck are coming from the same vantage point as their brother and Lauryn Hill, blending a variety of styles -- hip-hop, reggae, soul, gospel, pop -- into a colorful, multi-cultural sound. While they're not as accomplished at this stage as Jean, Hill, or the Fugees, Melky Sedeck have fashioned an appealing debut with Sister and Brother. It's true that the music feels like a smoothed-out variation on The Score and the solo efforts by Wyclef and Hill, but Sedeck's music is strong, even when the grooves are mellow. More importantly, Melky is a terrific singer, blessed with a rich, generous voice that is convincing on every track, even a misconceived cover of "To Sir, With Love." To some, it may be a disappointment that the album isn't radically different from the Fugees, but when faced with a debut this promising, it seems churlish to complain. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide