Customer Reviews

Soul Deep

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

She has a pop/classical style like Sarah Brightman, only this is all pop. Her voice has a beautiful etherial quality. The songs are very romantic. The CD sounds much better than the samples online.
Laura, consider me your first sale for your next CD too!

Soul Deep (Curb Records (USA), 2003) is an album of uncommon construction and incredible depth. The fifteen tracks include a prelude to one number, a postlude to another and a remix of the opening title track that concludes the recording. Turner's own songs--as well as some contributions from some of the industry's best writers, including Diane Warren (Celine Dion, Aerosmith) and Desmond Child (Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Cher)--feel at once ethereal and deeply sensual.

The formula perfectly blends Laura's training in the classics--layers of orchestral strings, elegant melodic sensibilities--with dance, African, Celtic and Latin-influenced rhythms, chiming guitars, a fat bass under-belly and sultry, atmospheric vocals reminiscent of Sarah MacLachlan and Paula Cole. She clearly draws on inspiration provided by favourites Enya, Kate Bush and Secret Garden.

While the CD will appeal to pop music audiences to a significant extent, the operatic vocal textures throughout clearly place it in contemporary crossover equally well. The album pulls the listener in quickly and doesn't let up until all the tracks have played. Styles and pace vary across the disc as does the texture of Laura's vocal work. Make no mistake, this is a female vocals album; orchestral arrangements work well and the inclusion of classically derived numbers will broaden the audience appeal of the record.

The title track is a celebration of the spiritual aspects of love-making. Laura's haunting, enigmatic mid-tempo take on "My Sacrifice" at once showcases her vocal and dynamic range, finding nuances and subtelties easily missed in the hard-rocking Creed original and the unique gospel choir vocal arrangement works extremely well in the bridge. Her emotional complexity is best illustrated in her own trip-hoppy lullabye, "Baby Sleep." The song has a real sensual groove as well. The acoustic ballad "Complete" includes contrasting sections of soaring vocalise and acoustic guitar. Laura's vocals shine through against the light arrangement of the evocative number "Devoted" while upbeat cinematic instrumentals underscore the accessible number "You're Where I Belong."

The hypnotic rhythms and cinematic imagery of standout track "Illusion of a Kiss" provide a vivid exploration of the intense, and often contradictory, yearnings and fears that accompany the first bloom of love. "Where You Are" is a prayer for fulfillment that reflects on the fundamental self-doubt all of us bring to any substantive relationship. The contrast of the chorus and verse underscore the lyrical themes.

Laura Turner's pure singing power comes to light in "Angel De Madrugada," a lush and gentle duet with Ray Vega that puts her soprano on full display. The Spanish language track demonstrates one more way her classical training prepared her for this opportunity--she is fluent in the operatic languages of German, French and Italian. Clearly the biggest moment for Laura's voice is found in "The Will of the Heart" co-written by Turner with Howell and Tammy Hyler. An inspirational show-stopper that is a hymn to perserverance and self-esteem, it is a testament to positive thining that refuses to gloss over the tough times endured to get to happy endings. That would make it unique in the world of inspo-anthems but Laura's performance of the song takes it into the spine-tingling, hair-on-end regime.

"The Touch" is a latin-beat influenced pop number. Laura's crystalline operatic texture perfectly compliments the rhythm while layers of her soaring backing vocals demonstrate an incredible dexterity. The Ash Howe remix of "Soul Deep" that concludes the album will appeal to some audiences more than the original. It is a vocally stronger and instrumentally richer version that is well placed as the opposite bookend to the opening version.

Read further reviews, listen to soundbites and order the album from Amazon.com. Laura Turner's debut album on Curb Records certainly deserves further exploration. With lush arrangements, pop sensibility and crystalline operatic style vocal work, it is worth a trans-Atlantic journey and is by all counts a must listen! Read further reviews at Musical Discoveries.

I have been searching for a new vocalist who can sing AND dance, like Sarah Brightman. Now I have found her, Laura Turner. Her talent is fully captured in her artistic promotional music video "Soul Deep". Her voice and dance are as beautiful as herself. See the music video yourself at her website.

My favour songs are "Soul Deep" and "Baby Sleep."

If she can produce a music video DVD, like Sarah Brightman's Desert Fantasy, she will be very successful.

Laura, please produce more music videos, recorded in high-definition video and 5.1 surround sound.

Think Olivia Newton-John meets Sarah Brightman, add a touch of Celine Dion and you have the basic idea.

Laura Turner's voice ranges from angelic to sultry, with a delivery that's powerful and crystal clear (for the most part). Add a little time and experience, and she could be a major star in the up and coming 'classical crossover' genre.

While this album doesn't quite evoke the kind of emotional reaction that a Brightman album does, it comes close. Very close.

I heard the title cut, "Soul Deep", at a Cinemark theater and was quite impressed, and have very much looked forward to this CD's release, which was today. After having heard the entire CD, I find it to be a mixed bag, with some fine cuts and others just okay.

I still find "Soul Deep" to be a wonderful song, and this should make for a great single, and I expect it could become a FM hit, too. I strongly prefer the Ash Howes Mix (Bonus Track #15) to the mix on track #1. Oddly enough, the only lyrics included with the liner notes is for this song. ... As of the time I'm writing this review, I was unable to find those lyrics. This Website does offer the "Soul Deep" video and all tracks from the CD.

Some of the tracks should find their way to Christian FM stations and CD stores, and I have no doubt that many listeners will enjoy these tracks, but frankly they have only marginal appeal to me. Other than the title song, nothing stood out until track 10, "My Sacrifice", which has a very nice backup chorus of African-American gospel singers (I guess). Turner does a great job with this genre and blends very nicely with the chorus. Track 11 & 12 "Angel de Madrugada" is in Spanish and has a male guest soloist, and is another interesting, well-done track.

Turner's voice is excellent throughout and demonstrates a high degree of versatility. The liner notes explain that she is a classically trained vocalist, and on occasion this is obvious. For those who are concerned that they will be listing to an opera diva, there is no need to worry. Turner has completely mastered the "art" of popular singing. She has adopted very well the soft, high, and sweet sound of many current popular female vocalists.

Strings, acoustic guitar, keyboards, and backup vocals are used throughout. The "concertmaster" violinist is particularly nice. A couple tracks use a French horn and oboe. I found some of the "cookie cutter" percussion to be distracting and too loud -- perhaps an attempt to make the music more noticed on the radio?

On balance, this is a sweet, pleasant release, and a sampler of genres and vocal styles. I wish Turner a long career. Maybe if she attracts a sufficiently large audience, she will be able to do a purely classical CD, too. I would welcome that. She has a great voice. My giving this release 3-stars is because of the quality of the songs and not her musicianship which deserves at least 4-stars and perhaps even 5.

The first song, Song Deep really got both my daughter and my attention. Laura Turner has got a set of power lungs. I've really enjoyed listening to this CD. I thought her Spanish songs were excellent too. I am definitely looking forward to her next album. We both thought it was really cool that she's a mom as well. By the way, loved the dress.

Laura stands on her own and doesn't have to sound like anyone but Laura. I first heard her on the CBS Morning Show and went to work finding her CD. Amazon accommodated. She stays in a cd player all time. Never get tired of hearing her wonderful voice. Wanting her to do another.

I am not good with words but I know what I like, It was enough to here a sample of this CD to make me fall in love with yet another angelic voice, this defiantly has made it to my list of favorites and will look forward to her following works. Those who love Sarah Brahman's voice and music will find this CD on that similar level of vocal quality and inventive musical beauty, though unlike Sarah's voice (that enticed me from the first hearing), Laura Turner's voice is higher in tone and clearer, in other words less airy than Sarah's voice.

Deep Soul, great relaxing lyrics, music and definitely pure and inviting voice.

Soul Deep (Curb Records (USA), 2003) is an album of uncommon construction and incredible depth. The fifteen tracks include a prelude to one number, a postlude to another and a remix of the opening title track that concludes the recording. Turner's own songs--as well as some contributions from some of the industry's best writers, including Diane Warren (Celine Dion, Aerosmith) and Desmond Child (Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Cher)--feel at once ethereal and deeply sensual.

The formula perfectly blends Laura's training in the classics--layers of orchestral strings, elegant melodic sensibilities--with dance, African, Celtic and Latin-influenced rhythms, chiming guitars, a fat bass under-belly and sultry, atmospheric vocals reminiscent of Sarah MacLachlan and Paula Cole. She clearly draws on inspiration provided by favourites Enya, Kate Bush and Secret Garden.

While the CD will appeal to pop music audiences to a significant extent, the operatic vocal textures throughout clearly place it in contemporary crossover equally well. The album pulls the listener in quickly and doesn't let up until all the tracks have played. Styles and pace vary across the disc as does the texture of Laura's vocal work. Make no mistake, this is a female vocals album; orchestral arrangements work well and the inclusion of classically derived numbers will broaden the audience appeal of the record.

The title track is a celebration of the spiritual aspects of love-making. Laura's haunting, enigmatic mid-tempo take on "My Sacrifice" at once showcases her vocal and dynamic range, finding nuances and subtelties easily missed in the hard-rocking Creed original and the unique gospel choir vocal arrangement works extremely well in the bridge. Her emotional complexity is best illustrated in her own trip-hoppy lullabye, "Baby Sleep." The song has a real sensual groove as well. The acoustic ballad "Complete" includes contrasting sections of soaring vocalise and acoustic guitar. Laura's vocals shine through against the light arrangement of the evocative number "Devoted" while upbeat cinematic instrumentals underscore the accessible number "You're Where I Belong."

The hypnotic rhythms and cinematic imagery of standout track "Illusion of a Kiss" provide a vivid exploration of the intense, and often contradictory, yearnings and fears that accompany the first bloom of love. "Where You Are" is a prayer for fulfillment that reflects on the fundamental self-doubt all of us bring to any substantive relationship. The contrast of the chorus and verse underscore the lyrical themes.

Laura Turner's pure singing power comes to light in "Angel De Madrugada," a lush and gentle duet with Ray Vega that puts her soprano on full display. The Spanish language track demonstrates one more way her classical training prepared her for this opportunity--she is fluent in the operatic languages of German, French and Italian. Clearly the biggest moment for Laura's voice is found in "The Will of the Heart" co-written by Turner with Howell and Tammy Hyler. An inspirational show-stopper that is a hymn to perserverance and self-esteem, it is a testament to positive thining that refuses to gloss over the tough times endured to get to happy endings. That would make it unique in the world of inspo-anthems but Laura's performance of the song takes it into the spine-tingling, hair-on-end regime.

"The Touch" is a latin-beat influenced pop number. Laura's crystalline operatic texture perfectly compliments the rhythm while layers of her soaring backing vocals demonstrate an incredible dexterity. The Ash Howe remix of "Soul Deep" that concludes the album will appeal to some audiences more than the original. It is a vocally stronger and instrumentally richer version that is well placed as the opposite bookend to the opening version.

With lush arrangements, pop sensibility and crystalline operatic style vocal work, it is worth a trans-Atlantic journey and is by all counts a must listen!

I discovered this album through her Christmas album, I can't get enough of her mesmerizing voice!! Soul Deep is the best album to just relax and daydream to :-)