Add another name to South Africa's contributions to contemporary Christian musicality. After establishing herself a few years ago at the bottom of the Dark Continent, Reana hits with an abbreviated release that recalls some heady U.S. and Canadian talent.
Reana scales from angelically breathy whispers to guttural earthiness, sometimes in the course of one line. Loose limbed folk pop with piano and orchestral accents make it seem like Lilith Fair never left the road. Put this in the CD carousel with Sarah McLachlan, Margaret Becker, Jennifer Knapp, and Fiona Apple, and Reana will sound to be among her peers.
While she's scripturally bold enough for her primary market ("The Cure"), neither does she shirk from having fun with her mission ("Feed Me"). Her songwriting notebook also makes room for more earthly affections ("Show Your Love") and a humility that warns her fans against heroine worship ("Elevate").
Reana already has the necessary goods to make a splash as an adult alt star in the rest of the world. When and if Christendom gets up to speed, crown her the queen of that scene.
Similar sounding releases
1999Kendall PayneJordan's Sister
1997Out of the Grey(See Inside)
2001Jennifer KnappThe Way I Am
2002Vanessa CarltonBe Not Nobody
1999Plumbcandycoatedwaterdrops
2004Rachael LampaRachael Lampa
