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Current concise reviews of the albums by adult alternative, contemporary, and crossover artists. Images of album artwork and links to both internet-based resources are always included. Click on the title to view the article.

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Sisca - Impermanent Life - CD Cover
image © Hype33 Entertainment 2010

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(17 October 2010) The eleven track debut album from the soon to be rapidly emerging Indonesian classical crossover artist Sisca is entitled Impermanent Life (Hype33 Entertainment (Australia), 2010). Sisca's album is not yet released and is being shopped around by the artist's management with the major labels. Influenced by Sarah Brightman and Enya, listeners will be astounded how classical crossover, new age and world have been combined in this stunning new project. Learn more about Sisca in our exclusive interview.

Sisca's crystalline soprano voice is indeed the centerpiece of Impermanent Life. String and keyboard arrangements and backing harmonies contribute to the incredibly rich texture that backs the singer's work. The over seven minute long title track achieves a world and new age texture with powerful atmospherics, tribal chants and superb arrangements including the strongest percussion on the album. Sisca's powerful vocal soars above the arrangements following an extended introduction. In sharp contrast, listeners will delight in melancholy crossover ballad "Mother." Dramatic allusions of Sarah Brightman are clear in the powerful multilaypered ballad "Hope."

The rhythmic sound of "Kindness" is driven home by the numbers sung in the song's chorus, and is by combining rich keyboard washes and crisp percussion, reminscent of Enya's work, except for the wonderful soaring vocalise parts. Sisca returns to the theme in "Time," a duet which appears as a bookend later in the record. Her production staff were brilliant in pairing the standouts at opposite ends of the album.

Backed by acoustic guitar and strings, Sisca's delicate delivery of the crossover ballad "Beautiful" is tremendously delivered. Her vocal work continues in crystalline form to soar above additional harmonies and lovely arrangements.The singer's Mandarin singing roots are echoed in the orientally derived arrangements of "We Are The Same," clearly one of the album's most progressive standouts. The song absolutely defines classical crossover--stunning vocals atop worldly, yet modern, arrangements.

Piano and strings provide the foundation for Sisca's poerful delivery of the crossover ballad "Where Is Love." Sisca's vocal maturity on the track puts her amongst the best crossover singers. Listen for the Tarja Turunen allusion within this stunning track. An incredible world textured duet Sisca sings opposite Mark Vincent entitled "Time" is well placed in this collection. The two voices are splendid together.

"We Never Learn" is the most powerful vocal number on the album. Sisca's vocalise glides atop the rhythmic arrangements opposite the lyrical parts. It is a compliment to Sisca and her team to say that the song has a strong Sarah Brightman influence within its vocal and instrumental arrangements. The final track of the main album is the delicately yet percussively arranged "Earth Song." It is a stunning new age style track with extremely powerful operatic vocal work. The album concludes with an upbeat and accessible alternative mix of "Beautiful." The vocal power is incredible.

Sisca's debut album Impermanent Life is certain to draw significant attention from the major labels as it is shopped around this autumn. Likely to be released after Midem in Cannes next January, this album will delight female vocal enthusiasts as well as classical crossover fans. Musical Discoveries will keep visitors posted on release plans. Sisca is at the beginning of what promises to be a successful and long running musical career.

 
 
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