No Na – ‘Island Girl’ review: an album of two halves that points towards girl group greatness

When NME first spoke to Indonesian girl group No Na earlier this year, the four members – Baila, Christy, Esther and Shaz – were quick to agree on two things: their love for R&B and their desire to bring their culture to the world. Debut album ‘Island Girl’ is their attempt to do both at once, weaving Indonesian heritage and the sounds they grew up on into a glossy mix of pop and R&B. These elements often come together in beautiful harmony, even if the album can sometimes feel like two halves of a whole. READ MORE: HorsegiirL proves the neighsayers wrong with her joyous, whimsical dance music The first half leans into the quartet’s Indonesian culture, with songs that are brimming with style and personality. Party-starter ‘Honk!’ and its call to “get on the angkot” will get you on your feet in no time, while the metallic clanging of the traditional ceng-ceng instrument on high-energy single ‘Work’ is instantly catchy. But even when they aren’t as outright with their background, sometimes a song’s breezy, island vibe – such as the laid-back album highlight ‘Seafood Diet’ – is enough to bring their identity to the forefront. The back half, meanwhile, is mostly a slate of solid...