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If you remember the AOR sound
of late ‘70s pop rock, when the genre was just on the cusp of
becoming that thing we used to call ‘New Wave’, then you’re
almost certain to enjoy DEDICATED TO...
This recording is current, yet so sinfully
retro, you may find yourself looking over your shoulder to make
certain no one sees you actually having fun with the music
(yeah, it’s like being afraid to tell people you actually own
a Barry Manilow record, or that (*gulp*) you like Disco!).
DEDICATED TO…is catapulted by
the seductive and soulfully sexy vocals of Sasha Alexander, a
20-something West German whose voice is a melodic blend of
George Michael, Robbie Williams and Paul Young. Specifically, on
the tracks “Another Minute” and “Let Me Be The One”,
Sasha’s brand of pop music lets the feeling come through
beneath layers of textured sound, caressing the space between
with sweetly uttered cadence. He can go from a gospel-tinged
ballad (“We Can Leave”), complete with a gospel chorus and
“We Are the World” harmonies, to something more contemporary
and accessible, like the blue-eyed soul grooves of (“Let Me
Have You Girl”), where Sasha seems to invoke the echoes of
Darryl Hall laid over a smooth saxophone drone. This versatility
is what makes Sasha’s debut such a joy.
The opening track, “If
You Believe”, is a smash in Europe. Full of emotional
assurances and friendly, happy rhythms, it displays the full
confidence of a Top-40 radio hit-single. The surprising “Chemical
Reaction” lays on raga-muffin inflections, reggae dub beats
and ska-like horns, while “Owner of My Heart” is a pure and
traditional love song. This is what pop music can do: trace an
unbreakable and seamless line from one type of musical emotion
to the next, offering the kind of experience that has universal
appeal. Even the symphonic posturings of the beautifully
arranged “Reach Inside” provide still another glimpse at
this artist’s expansive talent as Sasha comfortably allows a
string orchestra, piano and oboe to support his singing and
paint a picture of warm and moving sounds.
Though many tracks on this
release have a way of reminding you of something you have heard
before (“Don’t You Forget Me” sounds like George Michael’s
“Freedom”. “Something Stupid” sounds faintly like R
Kelly with its solidly modern urban funk, and “Don’t Say
Goodbye”’s gentle, easy vibes and earnest sensuality brings
to mind melodic artists like Breathe and Mister Mister),
DEDICATED TO…..ultimately provides a singularly rewarding
listening experience, one which is both familiar and comforting,
yet fresh and inviting. Like David Gates and Bread from the
past, and the BackStreet Boys of today, Sasha Alexander knows
how to create a sweet package of endearing pop music for all to
enjoy.
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| Artist |
Sasha Alexander |
| Title |
Dedicated To... |
| Label |
Reprise Records |
| Reviewer |
Roxanne Blanford |
| Rating |
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| website |
www.sashaweb.com |
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