Ashley Cleveland is one of those artists that seems to embrace the spiritual and the temporal with equal gusto-and as a result, seems more alive than most. Listening to one of her recordings makes you realize that she's probably someone who squeezes every last drop of emotion out of every-day life, making sure that she doesn't miss out on any experiences.
Through her first two recordings, 1991's Big Town on Atlantic Records and 1993's Bus Named Desire on Reunion, her writing has been an unvarnished look at life, both the good and the bad, with the tempering of someone who has experienced both sin and salvation.
She has one of the best female voices in rock and R&B, bar none. This time out, however, she chooses to tone things down somewhat, emphasizing the more soulful aspects, as opposed to a full-frontal vocal assault.
The result is just as enjoyable as her prior work, just different. Cleveland chose to emphasize the spiritual this time out, and the music reflects that a little more. She chose to do some traditional hymns, as well as a couple of other praise & worship type songs, and doesn't mess with them too much. She does stamp them with her mark, however, and a memorable mark it is.
Of the "covers," my favorite is probably her version of Phil Madeira's "Mighty Lord." An all-out Rhythm & Blues celebration, it's a great showcase for Cleveland's ability to be powerful without having to wail. Madeira's Wurlitzer touches really play off of the vocals well.
The traditional hymns included are "Revive Us Again," "Power In The Blood," and "Holy, Holy, Holy." The last is especially effective, as Cleveland and husband/producer Kenny Greenberg kept the arrangement fairly spare, letting her voice have very few distractions.
Of the "non-hymn" songs, one of my favorites is "There's A Light," by Beth Nielsen Chapman. A gentle ballad full of quiet hope, it shows a more controlled side of Cleveland, that is just as effective as her ability to belt it out.
Cleveland co-wrote most of the rest, including the opener, "Lesson Of Love," and the album closer, the triumphant "I Know Who I Am." This song finishes the disc with the energy and power that we've seen from Cleveland before, letting us know that she definitely hasn't lost anything-she's just stretching herself in a different direction this time. And it is a very enjoyable exercise, indeed.
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