ALYSSA
Alyssa (Self Released EP)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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Taking a rather circuitous route from the off-Broadway stage to a college choir and NYC jazz, in 1999 Alyssa Cooper ended up in a San Diego recording studio where she laid down five tracks that are finally available to the world. Does the world care? It should.

Alyssa is blessed with a pleasant voice and a fetching countenance, but so are lots of people. She's also blessed with an original musical vision which is far less common. From the romantic pop of "Endless Search" to the world-beat flavored hip-hop of "Beats," she draws inspiration from the R&B, hip-hop, folk and pop sounds she grew up with, matches them with rhythms from Africa and the Indian sub-continent, channels them through a similarly eclectic range of instrumentation and comes up with half of one of the best albums of the year. I can't wait to hear the other half.

Track List:

No White Dove * Endless Search * Beats * Fade From Me * Getcha Groove On

© 2001 - Shaun Dale