Search - Laura Turner :: Soul Deep

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R. W. Elliot | Endicott, NY | 08/31/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Soul Deep (Curb Records (USA), 2003) is an album of uncommon construction and incredible depth. The fifteen tracks include a prelude to one number, a postlude to another and a remix of the opening title track that concludes the recording. Turner's own songs--as well as some contributions from some of the industry's best writers, including Diane Warren (Celine Dion, Aerosmith) and Desmond Child (Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Cher)--feel at once ethereal and deeply sensual. The formula perfectly blends Laura's training in the classics--layers of orchestral strings, elegant melodic sensibilities--with dance, African, Celtic and Latin-influenced rhythms, chiming guitars, a fat bass under-belly and sultry, atmospheric vocals reminiscent of Sarah MacLachlan and Paula Cole. She clearly draws on inspiration provided by favourites Enya, Kate Bush and Secret Garden.While the CD will appeal to pop music audiences to a significant extent, the operatic vocal textures throughout clearly place it in contemporary crossover equally well. The album pulls the listener in quickly and doesn't let up until all the tracks have played. Styles and pace vary across the disc as does the texture of Laura's vocal work. Make no mistake, this is a female vocals album; orchestral arrangements work well and the inclusion of classically derived numbers will broaden the audience appeal of the record.The title track is a celebration of the spiritual aspects of love-making. Laura's haunting, enigmatic mid-tempo take on "My Sacrifice" at once showcases her vocal and dynamic range, finding nuances and subtelties easily missed in the hard-rocking Creed original and the unique gospel choir vocal arrangement works extremely well in the bridge. Her emotional complexity is best illustrated in her own trip-hoppy lullabye, "Baby Sleep." The song has a real sensual groove as well. The acoustic ballad "Complete" includes contrasting sections of soaring vocalise and acoustic guitar. Laura's vocals shine through against the light arrangement of the evocative number "Devoted" while upbeat cinematic instrumentals underscore the accessible number "You're Where I Belong."The hypnotic rhythms and cinematic imagery of standout track "Illusion of a Kiss" provide a vivid exploration of the intense, and often contradictory, yearnings and fears that accompany the first bloom of love. "Where You Are" is a prayer for fulfillment that reflects on the fundamental self-doubt all of us bring to any substantive relationship. The contrast of the chorus and verse underscore the lyrical themes. Laura Turner's pure singing power comes to light in "Angel De Madrugada," a lush and gentle duet with Ray Vega that puts her soprano on full display. The Spanish language track demonstrates one more way her classical training prepared her for this opportunity--she is fluent in the operatic languages of German, French and Italian. Clearly the biggest moment for Laura's voice is found in "The Will of the Heart" co-written by Turner with Howell and Tammy Hyler. An inspirational show-stopper that is a hymn to perserverance and self-esteem, it is a testament to positive thining that refuses to gloss over the tough times endured to get to happy endings. That would make it unique in the world of inspo-anthems but Laura's performance of the song takes it into the spine-tingling, hair-on-end regime."The Touch" is a latin-beat influenced pop number. Laura's crystalline operatic texture perfectly compliments the rhythm while layers of her soaring backing vocals demonstrate an incredible dexterity. The Ash Howe remix of "Soul Deep" that concludes the album will appeal to some audiences more than the original. It is a vocally stronger and instrumentally richer version that is well placed as the opposite bookend to the opening version.Read further reviews, listen to soundbites and order the album from Amazon.com. Laura Turner's debut album on Curb Records certainly deserves further exploration. With lush arrangements, pop sensibility and crystalline operatic style vocal work, it is worth a trans-Atlantic journey and is by all counts a must listen! Read further reviews at Musical Discoveries."

A Truly beautiful, well trained voice.

Josh | ROSEVILLE, CA United States | 08/07/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"She has a pop/classical style like Sarah Brightman, only this is all pop. Her voice has a beautiful etherial quality. The songs are very romantic. The CD sounds much better than the samples online.
Laura, consider me your first sale for your next CD too!"

Artistic and beautiful...............both music and video

Tiger Little | Ontario Canada | 03/05/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have been searching for a new vocalist who can sing AND dance, like Sarah Brightman. Now I have found her, Laura Turner. Her talent is fully captured in her artistic promotional music video "Soul Deep". Her voice and dance are as beautiful as herself. See the music video yourself at her website.



My favour songs are "Soul Deep" and "Baby Sleep."



If she can produce a music video DVD, like Sarah Brightman's Desert Fantasy, she will be very successful.



Laura, please produce more music videos, recorded in high-definition video and 5.1 surround sound."