PRINT: The New Soul (Various Artists) - Gospel Music Review on BlackGospel.com

Review Of
The New Soul (Redeemed Soul)
Various Artists
March, 2006 on BlackGospel.com, Review by Jennifer Belot

To the proponents of contemporary gospel, I have found a remedy for your hungry hearts. THE NEW SOUL is the embodiment of modern-day gospel as it was intended. With a mellow mixture of harmonized hymns, this ensemble of established and emerging stars is sure to leave you elated and yearning for more. Featuring seven divinely gifted artists: Lonna Hardin, Denise Tichenor, June Long, D’Andre Bracey, Frank Cole, Bridgette Campbell and Katherine Alexander, this compilation album is a delicious platter of praise in a variety of musical forms. Offerings of urban, contemporary and R&B gospel are carefully threaded together in a soulful synergy on Redeemed Soul’s debut, compilation project.

In stores March 14^th, 2006 THE NEW SOUL is the brainchild of executive producer David V. Taylor in concert with established producers Noel Hall, Berris Bolton and Roger Ryan who have all made their mark in the industry by teaming up with well known names in gospel such as (respectively) Fred Hammond, Fortitude and the first lady of gospel, Pastor Shirley Caesar.

Representing the neo-soul contingent of Redeemed Soul, Lonna Hardin’s soulful vocals (which to her credit are qualitatively similar to R&B mainstay Faith Evans), introduce us to THE NEW SOUL by building on the popular urban phraseology “can’t nobody do me like you do” in the up-tempo Can’t Nobody. With the acoustic guitar at the forefront I Never Knew sees Lonna’s ethereal soprano extolling God’s love in a spiritual love song. Whether singing of love or loss, this songstress is unafraid to minister to real life issues; she accomplishes this in Tender Mercy, where she laments the unwanted tears of a broken heart and in I Belong To You, a modern song of consecration.

D’Andre Bracey brings another dimension to THE NEW SOUL in his interpretation of Jehovah We Bless Your Name, a guitar-heavy, rocking praise & worship anthem followed by seasoned psalmist Bridgette Campbell in another praiseful hymn. Radio-friendly He Reigns claims the truth of the hundred and fiftieth psalm bringing together piano, percussion, guitars and horns in perfect concert as the songstress proclaims “Over darkness, over sickness, He is faithful I am grateful that He reigns. Over death He speaks life. He’s done it all, overall my God, He reigns!”

Frank Cole, as one of only two brothers on this project displays smooth balladry in Hosanna and More Than Conquerors standing out as a gifted tenor on the mostly-female roster. His mellow voice marries well to the sweet urban contemporary sounds of June Long in the duet What Do You See In Me. June’s smooth melodies can be found on the groovy Your Love Is So Good To Me and continues on in the amorous serenade, One Like You.

The jazzy ministrations of the piano introduce listeners to the rapturous fervor of Indianapolis native, Denise Tichenor in, perhaps the album’s finest selection, the contemplative I Bow Down, sung with unapologetic worshipful enthusiasm. The same heartfelt passion resounds in contemporary sounding Echoes From Heaven, an autobiographical account of the loneliness Denise felt in the passing of both her parents as well as two of her seven siblings. The echoes she speaks of represent the voice of Jesus through a time of loss and pain in her life sung with a candor that touches the heart of anyone having similarly experienced the darkness of losing loved ones.

Detroit native Katherine Alexander ministers not only through her bright smile but also in the animated sentiment of her song as she manages in less than two minutes to make a lasting impression by reminding us of the Amazing Grace of God in a churchy interpretation of the timeless hymn.

The innovative character of THE NEW SOUL is found in the use of secular prose to convey a contemporary message of heaven’s amazing love. The passion for both ministry and artistry of the Redeemed Soul roster of singers is abundantly clear. Casual listeners to The New Soul will surely discover a series of divine ditties destined to uplift, move and groove the innermost parts of your soul. So take a minute, take a load off and take a listen to the future…it’s THE NEW SOUL.