Reviewed by James Lidgett

The German singer/songwriter may be known to some UK music lovers - Fierce! briefly distributed Sarah's previous self-titled album. Perhaps the most instantly recognisable thing is the distinctive quality of her voice. It is clear and engaging thanks to an ineffable colour that perhaps lies somewhere between Robyn and Carla Bruni. The musical style that is portrayed by Brendel is also quite a departure from the mainstream popular music cultural norm. A masterfully woven interplay of gently fingerpicked and more heavily and forcefully played guitar accompaniments give the album a sense of movement, of progression and of shape. Influences are evidently drawn from different geographical and cultural settings, with variations in instrumentation seemingly reinforcing this. Larry Norman devotees will want to search out this album for the duet Larry contributes on the Brendel composition "Back To The Dust". A bonus video on the disc gives a diary account of Sarah and Larry meeting and spending time in the studio recording the track. All in all, this is an artfully crafted set of alt pop songs from a singer/songwriter who deserves exposure outside of her homeland.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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