Samantha James is going to have a great career, I can tell. Her voice is smooth and lush, like a night in a tropical paradise. The weather is warm but breezy, the drinks don't stop coming, and it's perfect. Anyone else agree with me? And in true Om style, the music supports that mental image, providing a nice backdrop to our gentle island paradise.
I would love to be able to stop there, allowing the picture to remain blissful. However, that bliss would be false. There is something seriously lacking on Samantha James' debut album that, if added to subsequent albums, will truly propel her into stardom.
1. Samantha's voice is a force of nature. It has many facets, many layers, and can do many things. Check out "Rise," her lead single. Her voice cushions you, turning this from beats to something altogether different, something soothing and ethereal. The rest of it doesn't matter, just her voice. On "Come Through," she reminds me of Tracey Thorn. While she obviously doesn't have the same style voice, her ability to carry a sultry trip-hop song does her immense credit, as it just isn't that easy to do. Could she have a career doing lighthearted emotional trip-hop? I believe so.
2. The music can sometimes release, sometimes constrict. The problem with a lot of Om recordings, and this may be a personal thing as lounge music doesn't really do it for me, is that the music drags down any true potential for the vocalist to shine. "I Found You" featuring Celso Fonseca is a perfect example. The song has a great latin-inspired flavor, but it is such a mellow, repetitive song that after a while, I completely lost interest. Despite how good Samantha is singing. James drowns in the heavy bass and plinking keys of "Rain", a true chill song if I've ever heard one. While having immensely good production, it's just yawn-inspiring.
3. Amp it up! I'm not asking for a club anthem, just a little more energy. Songs like "Living Without You" and "Breathe You In" both have great 80s synths, but the energy drags what could be two incredibly amazing tracks down to just mediocre level. Like I said, Amp it up!
Please don't get the impression that I don't like this album. As I have stated previously, James is incredibly talented and Om always has stellar productions. There are some down moments, just as there are some fantastic moments. Find out where you stand on this one.
Summary – Check out "Rise" first, to get the best impression. Follow with "Come Through", but don't expect to find your night out on the town with this album. Sit back with a home-mixed martini and sip, reveling in your own personal paradise.
