Let me say from the outset that this is not the style of music that I find myself listening to (I like my music with a rough or hard edge to it). That aside, it's a good discipline at times to intentionally listen to a musical style that you don't normally listen to. This stretches one's musical muscles so-to-speak.
Tania G capably performs what I'd describe as worshipful R&B or Soul. This is one smooth R&B album. The production is crystal clear throughout. What can I say -- "the girl can sing." Vocally, Tania is up there with the great divas of this world (i.e. Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Delta Goodrem, Tina Arena minus the overkill on vibrato that Mariah's often guilty of).
I first came across Tania's music on one of the 'Down Under' compilations. (By the way, if you want a good overview of Australasian artists/bands, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better compilation than these. A 2-CD compilation is released each year. The first one came out in 2001. For further details on these compilations visit www.three16records.com or contact Executive Producer Jeff Townsend at [email protected] .) I also caught the tail-end of a set she performed at this year's AGMF (that's the Australian Gospel Music Festival -- Australia's huge-ist annual Christian music event www.agmf.com.au ) and let me tell you - she has quite the stage presence.
Tania G is no newcomer to the Australian Christian music scene. Before (and, for a time, while) embarking on her own music career, she ministered musically for Youth Alive Victoria. Lay It All Down is her second full-length release and her first release on the recently-formed and innovative Humber Records label http://www.humberrecords.com . (Tania has also released a self-titled EP.) The overall theme of the album as shown in the album's title (Lay It All Down) is surrender -- true freedom comes as we surrender our lives to the Almighty. The song "Free" puts it well with the line -- "freedom was found when I laid my life down." She's singing about the freedom that comes 'by Your [God's] love for me'. In 'I Won't Forget' she states that she 'won't regret laying down my life to find it again'. You've got to love the bass and keyboard work on "Real Love" -- a song about God's freeing love. The funky "Mesmerised" is a great cover of an acoustic Compliments of Gus song. It has a great horn section. The song "Fall" has a great feel to it. "Greatest Gift" -- a duet with Gary Pinto - is kind of the centerpiece of the album. Tania closes with "How Great Thou Art / I Exalt Thee" - a worship medley showcasing her dual combination of stunning vocals and a heart for worship.
If you enjoy the music of today's divas and the smooth sounds of R&B, then this album is for you.
4 tocks
