Fiona Renshaw - Love in a Bubble

Laws of Motion and Sirkus Records are taking a serious break of genre in Fiona Renshaw's debut album. Known primarily as dance music labels with releases by many of England's finest techno and broken beat artists, "Love in a Bubble" is a move towards perhaps a more pop music mentality. Though definitely not a pop album, "Love in a Bubble" is at its heart 21st century soul jazz. Using mostly non-synthesized sounds the album has a pop, soul, jazz feeling reminiscent of Natalie Imbruglia. However, Fiona Renshaw's voice is what really takes the album to the next level.

With perhaps the lowest tone since Nina Simone, Miss Renshaw has an amazingly unique voice that at first listen sounds like a man's. I must admit that at first this album disgusted me, it's difficult to get a handle on, as both the music and voice are so ethereal it seems like music made from a different world. After a number of listens it began to grow on me. Despite the similarities to other artists aforementioned, Fiona Renshaw's sound is really like nothing I have ever heard. The influences are definitely present in Fiona Renshaw's voice, from Sade to Billie Holiday.

As the album continues the folk and blues begin to bleed out. The debut track almost ruins the entire album, but Fiona moves into her true raw talents with "Higher Above," an almost folk dance ballad that, like all other songs on the album, describes the feeling of being a woman and falling in love. The omnipresent instrument throughout the album is Tony Gethin's guitar, which, like Renshaw's voice, creates a certain atmosphere that is quite difficult to get a grasp on.

Overall I actually found myself wanting to hear this album when I just wanted to relax and ignore the world around me. For the true success of this album is its ability to transport the listener into a completely different world. I do wish the album had a bit more development and change in it, perhaps experimenting with more styles of music. Being on Laws of Motion and Sirkus Records maybe some remixes will come about, perhaps another collaboration with Mr. Scruff, or maybe something with DJ Krush or even better, Jazzanova. But until then "Love in a Bubble" is something to look for on September 7th, just be prepared for something very different.