Reviewed by Mark Goodge

Jane Gibbs is obviously a talented lady with a fine voice. I'm not really sure, though, that this tape is the best showcase for her abilities. Musically, it falls into a soft pop/MOR bracket, with hints of Amy Grant (but then, don't they all?) and Twila Paris. Consisting mostly of original work, plus a few old favourites (including Bill Wither's "Lean On Me"), it's all competently done. The trouble is, none of it is particularly memorable. Jane has the kind of voice that, with the backing of a major record company, could sell lots of CDs. But having the voice isn't enough, there needs to be a spark of originality that just isn't present here. The songs are recorded using mostly sequenced keyboards, which is okay, but the 'real' saxophone sound isn't up to scratch. There's potential here, but it will take better songs and better production to make the most of it.

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.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.