Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

Berlin’s own Clara Hill has graced us with her newest project, Sideways. Self-proclaimed as an “electro-soul-folk-jazz” artist, Hill has definitely brought a unique sound to the table. Her smorgasbord of musical genres have somehow cumulated in the most perfect way, providing listeners with a mellow delicacy.

Hill joined her first jazz band when she was seventeen years old as a result of her interest in the “acid jazz” genre. She has sung in many bands including Superjuice, Jazzanova, and Stereoton. As a young solo artist she has also produced two previous albums entitled Restless Times and All I Can Provide; however, in Sideways, Hill expresses her song-writing and vocal abilities to a much higher degree.

Soulful, soothing, yet passionate – Hill’s vocal elegance makes this album shine. Her lyrics span from deeply introspective to blissfully joyful. The track “Wonderful World” doesn’t impress me with Hill’s overly simplistic lyrics. However, tracks About You and Don’t Go are so extraordinary composed that they make up for her filler song. Multiple layers of harmonies along with a small orchestra make this album flow with immense ease. Hill proves to be a very multifaceted artist who holds the power to combining genres into an album that pulls at the hearts of music lovers across the spectrum.