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Simon Phipps's personal commentary

Brooke Fraser

Browsing around on iTunes a week or so ago, I spotted a music video for sale called C.S. Lewis Song. Pretty intriguing title, so I sampled and discovered Brooke Fraser for the first time. She has a stunningly pure voice and the lyrics of her music are thoughtful and for a change mostly not about relationships, so I've dug further - first to the other (excellent) iTunes video, Shadowfeet, and then further to her most recent album, Albertine, from which both those songs are taken.

Turns out that she is from New Zealand and this is her second album. The first, What To Do With Daylight, is also excellent and made her a star in her home country with Arithmetic and other tracks. She's moved to Sydney since then, spent some of her new wealth on sponsoring children in Africa and got married.

The whole album is excellent - I've scored almost every track as 4 stars. The title track is available free from her website and is strong and compelling, as is the back-story. Her voice remains compelling at both ends of her range, and all the lyrics are refreshingly deep and spiritual.

To get a taste, browse her YouTube channel where all her music videos show up. While her record label is clearly trying to make sure we don't find out too easily, it turns out she is also making great worship music as a member of Hillsong United. I am captivated by her song Hosanna for example.

She's about to tour the US at the moment, and I think she's got a strong career ahead of her. She joins Delta Goodrem and Missy Higgins in my "antipodeans to watch" category and I suggest you give a try too.

Labels: Music

posted at 5:35 PM (UK) | |