Reviewed by Tony Cummings

It's rare to find an American mainstream pop singer signed to a UK label but judging from the quality of this album Clara has the voice and songwriting talent to register on the international scene for Right Recordings. The young lady from Fort Collins, Colorado pens songs with more hooks than a school cloakroom while the first single from the set "Forgetful Me" is far from being the strongest song here. Among my favourites are the challenge to a wayward lover ("Do you lose sleep at night, thinking about your life?/Do I cross your mind/Do you turn off the sound?") while the wistfully sad ballad "From Now On" manages to reflect loss without being maudlin. But wherever one looks on this album you find memorable melody, a voice which exudes a little girl lost quality but can then soar into the confident tones of the strident rock chick, and crisp production (impressively, from Clara herself). With an accompanying band of Nashville musos who play pop rock with the deft touch of ultra-professionals this is finely executed pop music. The misjudged inside sleeve pic of Clara in sexy hot pants suggests the kind of bump and grind bimbo who offers salaciousness as a substitute for talent. Clara in fact is nothing like that. Not only is she a sweet Christian lass, she has much more in common with the street cred singer/songwriters of adult pop than the teen fantasy icons of MTV land. So, if you want to get in on the ground floor with a singer/pianist/crafter of songs exploring the vagaries and joys of romance, check Clara out.

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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