Reviewed by Alan & Angeline Chesters

Alache (the name is African for 'watchlady') started to sing at a very early age and is now gaining attention with this collection of 11 jointly-penned songs. She has been influenced by artists such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin. Along her journey she was spotted in Nashville and this album has been produced by Cap'n Cookem and recorded and mixed by Jafari and Marky Mark. She's had a wide sphere of influence, from her military officer father and international evangelist mother and wider church family and chooses to quote Gandhi in the sleevenotes. The opening track, "Don't Cry", reflects on the death of a friend. While the pace of the tracks is constant, there is a variation in mood and the variation is helped by using a rap part way through the album on the track "I'm Dealing With It". The overall sound is often a reminder of Destiny's Child. This young lady has something to say in her songs, especially to young people, which deserves to be heard.

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