We love "Diamond in the Sand"!
author: cloud nine and cloud seven
Internet Music Radio, "Gone Fishing for Blue Skies", loves the world of Annie Sidley.
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Annie Sidley - Diamond in the Sand - Washington Post
author: Mike Joyce
IT DOESN'T take long for singer Annie Sidley to deliver the goods on her new CD, "Diamond in the Sand." Stirring vocals rooted in soul and gospel power the opening track, "Keepin' It Strong," with its themes of unity and affirmation, and spill over into the rest of the album, charging it with strong emotional and spiritual currents. "I'm holding onto faith," a line from the album's title song, pretty much sums up the prevailing mood.
Even so, Sidley often turns in her most affecting performances when she appears to be holding on for dear life. That's certainly the case on the back-to-back tracks "What Are We Fighting 4?" and "Bitter River." The latter, a mournfully yearning piano ballad, quietly stands out, displaying both the power and beauty of Sidley's voice. Other cuts, including the hypnotic coda "Marrakesh," reveal cross-cultural influences, but because Sidley's strong R&B ties are always evident, she seldom sounds as if she's drifting too far from shore.
Her husband, Steve Sidley, plays almost all the instruments here, though some of the colorfully orchestrated arrangements, particularly the one he tailored for "I Wait," cleverly conceal his multitasking. With the help of producer Doug Derryberry, he has fashioned a welcome sonic upgrade.
-- Mike Joyce
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