Album Review by EDF
Taking a nod from Kosheen in the electronica / trip-hop / drum and bass department, this New York based group sound tight. Okay, you can get away with sounding sloppy with electronic music but this is a well-produced album with songs worth listening to again and again. Fronted by Cuban-born vocalist Lissett Alea, who not only is easy on the eyes but oozes of sex from each song.
The opening track, PUREST ONE sounds like EVERYTHING BUT THE GIRL in a vengeful mood. PORTRAIT just drips of longing, “moving forward a steady clip a search for tranquillity, security’s your right bliss on your list” is hard to ignore. These are more than just simple throwaway lyrics, even when Lissett ends the song in French; she asks “am I doing it right?” Of course you are. SUMMER RAIN is the track that should be played in clubs covered in night shadows on a summer evening. A new category should be given to ENDLESS and that would be smooth pop dance; I know, a silly description.
We enter drum and bass territory, Tricky style, on the jazzy DANGER, ADONIS and trip-hop, Portishead style on DIABLO. FORGOTTEN LOVE reminds you of sitting out an April showers, waiting “to know if a soul will show to grow, grow in my garden”. There is even an instrumental here, the Zero 7 like ALL I NEED that just about does the job to entertain. The band shows off a bit with the last track on the album. EITHER WAY is a fitting end to a great album, but it is the funky hidden track that proves that this group has longevity.
This seems to be very much an album of two halves. The more danceable tracks are located at the first half of the CD while the moodier, reflective tracks make up the second half of the album. Lissett Alea’s vocal makes the album an enjoyable, listenable experience and that is not in any way trying to ignore the rest of the group either. Musically they have created a sound that will make this album a joy to play again and again.
