The gorgeous and talented Kristine W returns with the intriguing, genre-blending “Power of Music.” Given that a jaw-dropping five of the singles included have already topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart, anticipation for this full length release has been high in the dance music community and Ms. W does not disappoint.
Love is Behind The Scenes
Veteran impresarios Love to Infinity handle production duties on five of the album’s finest dance tracks: the rousing Disco-styled “Never,” the insanely catchy “Love Is the Look,” the galloping twirler “Window to Your World,” and Kristine’s cover of the Diana Ross 70s club jam “The Boss.” Kristine also tapped the LTI boys to help her revisit her own breakthrough hit “Feel What You Want,” euphorically updating what is truly one of the greatest club tracks of the 90s with skipping beats and flowing keyboards while keeping that essentially incessant synth line from the original.
“Walk Away” (initially released under the Tony Moran featuring Kristine W moniker) is another highlight with its brassy riffs and Kristine’s positively wailing vocal, as is the amazing House/NRG track “Fade” with its romantic lyric and racing bassline. Disco House fusion “The Groove’s Inside” is laden with strings, horns and a hook borrowed from A Taste of Honey’s “Boogie Oogie Oogie,” while the zippy “Happiness” relies on electronic flourishes, especially with the synth riffs at the chorus.
Stretching the Power of Music
However, while four-on-the-floor dance tracks are this album’s bread and butter, Kristine stylistically stretches out on rock-influenced songs like the chunky album closer “Meet Again” and “Be Alright” featuring an unlikely collaboration with Heavy Metal legend George Lynch of Dokken fame. Another surprise guest is old school rap icon Big Daddy Kane, who appears on the title track “The Power of Music” which blends his Hip-Hop flavor with a grinding Electro style track while ballads like “Not So Merry Go Round” and “Strings” show that vocally Kristine W easily is on par or better than most of the voices currently on mainstream radio.
Summary
In fact, while this album is definitely a must for dance fans, I genuinely hope that The Power of Music manages to reach ears beyond the confines of clubland. Kristine W has proven herself one of the best and most important dance vocalists of the past two decades; it’s time the rest of the world was clued in.