author: Kelly
Dear CD Baby:
I am new on this scene but was amazing surprised to find Amanda Ray's cd, Mirrored Images!! This is definitely a refreshing change of pace to the music world. Her music is moving and soothing, leaving you with a yearning to hear more. I love listening to this style of music for inspirations to the type of work that I do whle working my side gig as a makeup artist.
Her sound takes me THERE (anywhere away from reality and into a dream world where freedom is the only thing that matters). I would love to hear more from this artist, as this generation of singer/songwriters are starting to blend into each other. With the exception of a few, they all sound the same, look the same. Amanda's work definitely lends itself to variety, individuality, and smooth eclectic beats.
Please let me know when this artist's next album comes out.
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author: Peters at CD Baby
When you find an artist who has the bravado to claim "The Mind of Radiohead, the Guts of Bjork and the Heart of Sade," you'd expect either big things, or a big letdown. Thankfully, Amanda Ray delivers big and lovely things - with immaculate, pristine production and lush, warm layers of vocals. Mirrored Images is a pleasurable album of sparkling melancholy with a trip-hop vibe. Some standout tracks: "Must be Love," with its mellow trip hop beat and sensuous vocals, and "Chicken," which is built around a spiraling guitar loop and a slightly drum n bass beat, fuzz bass adds a propulsive edge, while the layers of mellow, mesmerizing looped vocals transport the listener to unexpected but thrilling places. Another standout is the album closer "Wounded," which mixes an exotica bubbling bass line, effected drum loop, timpanis, what sounds like a guzheng (Chinese zither), and ambient guitar, and adds Ray's radiant layered vocals into the mix. It's a fascinating sound that, like much of the album, is easy to lose yourself in and will be enjoyable for many future listens.
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