Alyse Black has a voice that stops you in your tracks. It’s a natural voice that someone is simply born with rather than worked on over years. She is a natural born singer who thankfully gave up her career in international business to return to her true love, music. Hold Onto This is an everyday album. No matter what happens in your day there is a song on this album to fit what you’re feeling. It’s a complete range of emotions that are backed by beautiful music that only adds to the elegance of her voice. Nowhere is that more on display than on “Up in the Air”. The song sounds huge with so much great reverb that it sounds like it was recorded in an empty concert hall. Ms. Black’s voice soars and dives like a bird drifting with the afternoon breeze. The subdued music lead by a beautifully played acoustic guitar fits in with drawing attention to itself like a nice tie on the perfect suit.
“Wild Child” has a vocal line that rises and falls like an erratic day at the stock market. In contrast to the fear of losing all your money and having to pick up a shift at Red Robin to pay the rent, you find yourself enjoying the up and down ride of your life. It’s a smile inducing rhythm that is paced beautifully with the help of a beautiful touch of horns. “To Please You” is a slow boat ride through the life of a relationship that has gone wrong. The lyrics speak to anyone who has ever been left with questions after a relationship comes to its sad and confusing end. Alyse doesn’t leave you feeling sad for too long though as the next song, “Super Hero” brings the mood back up with its Jazz tinged vocal track and uplifting mood of love.
In 2008 Alyse Black won 1st Place in the ISSA Singer-Songwriter Song Contest in the Jazz category and was a final nominee is the Adult Contemporary category. Considering the incredible quality of the twelve songs on Hold Onto This it is proof positive that Ms. Black has chosen the right course in life. Some people forget their dreams or get lead astray for whatever reason. In Alyse’s case the world of business seemed to be the calling that lead her away from here childhood dream of being a singer/songwriter. Musicians always find their true north eventually and true north for Alyse is clearly writing songs and singing like an angel.
Hot Tracks- Wild Child, Willowing, Up in the Air
Doug Morrissey MuzikReviews.com Staff
June 21, 2010
